Quality Assessment Criteria Research Articles

Are orofacial pain assessment tools for adults who cannot self-report pain suitable for dental practice? A scoping review.

This study aims to identify and appraise orofacial pain assessment tools designed to score pain in adults who cannot self-report and rate their suitability for dental practice. A protocolled systematic scoping review, in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute methods was completed. A development panel (n=7) reviewed attributes of each tool for suitability for use in dental practice, using predefined criteria. Nine studies were included. Sample size ranged from n=22 to n=348; all participants were 65 years plus and had a cognitive impairment or dementia, excluding controls.Four tools were identified: Facial action coding system (FACS), mobilization-observation-behavior-intensity in dementia pain scale (MOBID I & II) and, orofacial pain scale-non-verbal individuals (OPS-NVI).Tools scored between two and thirteen out of twenty according to modified quality assessment criteria. No tool was deemed suitable for use in dental surgery, with the OPS-NVI scoring most favorably. No tools were deemed ideal for use within a dental clinic. Elements of some, particularly the OPS-NVI, may be adaptable for this purpose. Despite the difficulties dental practitioners face trying to assess pain in non-speaking patients, there was no suitable tool identified. Pathways need to be designed to facilitate inclusive orofacial pain assessment for those who cannot self-report pain.

Interventions for improving health literacy among older people: a systematic review

BackgroundHealth literacy(HL) is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain process and understand basic health information and services required for making appropriate health decisions. Effective interventions to improve older people’s HL have become increasingly important. The purpose of this study is to conduct a review of interventions aimed at enhancing the HL of older people.MethodologyRelevant information was gathered from various databases including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and Web of Science. Additionally, a manual search of related journals and Google Scholar, a search of the reference lists of selected articles, and a search of unpublished sources were also conducted up to 30 August 2024. Reporting quality assessment was performed using CONSORT: 2010, JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Quasi-Experimental Studies, and “Quality Assessment Criteria for Survey Research Reports”.ResultsA total of 21 articles were included in this study. The interventions conducted in high-income countries were found to be more effective compared to those conducted in middle and low-income countries. Furthermore, interventions carried out at the community level were more effective than those performed in nursing homes. Educational interventions were more effective than lifestyle modification interventions, and interventions carried out in a single dimension were more effective than multidimensional interventions. Additionally, interventions that utilized technology were found to be more effective.ConclusionBased on the findings, community-based interventions that encompass a one-dimensional approach, incorporating the use of technology and considering the duration of the intervention, are more recommended.

The Positive and Negative Effects of Exit Exams in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review

Exit exams in higher education are given before students graduate having multiple purposes. Exit exams affect higher education either positively or negatively. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize the existing literature on the positive and negative effects of exit exams in higher education. In the literature search, the researcher used different electronic databases. Search terms were formulated and applied to the online databases. The databases used were ERIC, Google Scholar, JSTOR, and Researchgate. A total of 111 study articles were identified, and 20 studies were included in the study after applying inclusion, exclusion, and quality assessment criteria. The review process was guided by the principal research question—what are the positive and negative effects of exit exams in higher education? Problem Intervention Comparisons Outcome (PICO) was used to formulate the research question. The paper was prepared using the planning, protocol, extraction, analysis, and reporting stages. This systematic review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria and used Zotero for reference management. The systematic literature review revealed that exit exams have both positive and negative effects on the students, instructors, administrators, curriculum, and higher education intuitions. To this effect, attempts must be made to maximize the positive and minimize the negative effects of exit exams in higher education.

Association between sedentary behavior and bone mass, microstructure and strength in children, adolescents and young adults: a systematic review

Sedentary behavior (SED) research is currently receiving increasing attention in the field of public health. While it has been shown to have negative effects on cardiovascular or metabolic health, there is limited knowledge regarding the relationship between SED and bone health in children, adolescents, and young adults. Thus, the purpose of this review is to investigate the associations between SED and bone health status, specifically bone mass, microstructure, and strength. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across five electronic databases, including EMBASE, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, Web of Science and CNKI. The inclusion criteria were as follows: healthy participants aged 24 years or younger, with measured SED and measured bone outcomes. The quality of the included articles was assessed using the National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. After excluding, the final sample included 25 cross-sectional, 9 observational and 2 both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Among these, seven were rated as ‘high quality’, twenty-three were rated as ‘moderated quality’, and six were rated as ‘low quality’ according to the quality assessment criteria. After summarizing the evidence, we found no strong evidence to support an association between BMC or BMD and SED, even when considering gender or adjusting for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). However, a strong level of evidence was found indicating a negative relationship between objectively measured SED and cortical bone mineral density (Ct.BMD) in the tibia or stiffness index (SI) in the Calcaneus across all age groups. While the association between adverse bone health outcomes and SED still cannot be confirmed due to insufficient evidence, these findings suggest that bone microstructure and strength may be more sensitive to SED than bone mass. Thus, further evidence is needed to fully understand the connection between sedentary behavior and bone health, particularly regarding the relationship between SED and bone strength.

Genetic Polymorphisms Associated with Fetal Hemoglobin (HbF) Levels and F-Cell Numbers: A Systematic Review of Genome-Wide Association Studies.

Elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which is partly controlled by genetic modifiers, ameliorates disease severity in β hemoglobinopathies. Understanding the genetic basis of this trait holds great promise for personalized therapeutic approaches. PubMed, MedRxiv, and the GWAS Catalog were searched up to May 2024 to identify eligible GWAS studies following PRISMA guidelines. Four independent reviewers screened, extracted, and synthesized data using narrative and descriptive methods. Study quality was assessed using a modified version of the Q-Genie tool. Pathway enrichment analysis was conducted on gene lists derived from the selected GWAS studies. Out of 113 initially screened studies, 62 underwent full-text review, and 16 met the inclusion criteria for quality assessment and data synthesis. A total of 939 significant SNP-trait associations (p-value < 1 × 10-5) were identified, mapping to 133 genes (23 with overlapping variant positions) and 103 intergenic sequences. Most SNP-trait associations converged around BCL11A (chr.2), HBS1L-MYB, (chr.6), olfactory receptor and beta globin (HBB) gene clusters (chr.11), with less frequent loci including FHIT (chr.3), ALDH8A1, BACH2, RPS6KA2, SGK1 (chr.6), JAZF1 (chr.7), MMP26 (chr.11), COCH (chr.14), ABCC1 (chr.16), CTC1, PFAS (chr.17), GCDH, KLF1, NFIX, and ZBTB7A (chr.19). Pathway analysis highlighted Gene Ontology (GO) terms and pathways related to olfaction, hemoglobin and haptoglobin binding, and oxygen carrier activity. This systematic review confirms established genetic modifiers of HbF level, while highlighting less frequently associated loci as promising areas for further research. Expanding research across ethnic populations is essential for advancing personalized therapies and enhancing outcomes for individuals with sickle cell disease or β-thalassemia.

Postpartum Women's Experiences of Postnatal Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.

Postnatal care (PNC) is a critical service for the health and well-being of new mothers and newborns. However, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), most efforts to improve maternal and child health have been directed toward enhancing skilled birth attendance and urgent obstetric and neonatal care. This is despite the fact that more than half of maternal deaths globally occur in the postnatal period, with 65% of these occurring in the first week following birth. One of the health system factors influencing PNC utilization is the women's previous PNC experience at healthcare facilities. The aim of this review was to gain a better understanding of women's experiences of PNC in SSA. This study followed a qualitative evidence synthesis design. The phenomenon of interest was postpartum women's experiences of PNC in SSA. PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Science Direct, Africa Journals Online (AJOL), SCOPUS, and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2013 and 2023. To assess the quality of the included studies, we used an appraisal tool developed by the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre. Two authors independently extracted relevant data from the included studies. Thomas and Harden's thematic synthesis framework was used to synthesize the data. Eight articles were used in this review. Seven articles reported on qualitative studies, and one reported on a mixed-method study. All the included studies fully or partially met the 12 quality assessment criteria. Synthesis of the data resulted in the development of five analytical themes. The five themes were the adequacy of physical examination and communication of the findings, adequacy of PNC information, the quality of interactions with healthcare workers (HCWs), the availability of resources and adequacy of HCWs, and denial of care. The overall confidence in the review's findings was either moderate or high. Based on our findings, we recommend that countries in the region address staff shortages, implement task shifting, electronic medicine stock management systems, optimal supply chain policies, and train HCWs on PNC and interpersonal communication skills.

Experiences of Intensive Care Unit Patients as They Transition to the Ward: A Thematic Synthesis.

During the transfer of intensive care unit (ICU) patients to general wards, patients often experience transfer anxiety due to changes in the healthcare environment, staff and unfamiliarity with the new ward. However, the experiences of ICU patients during this transition period have received less attention. A systematic review and synthesis of the experiences of patients transitioning from the ICU to the ward. Thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. We searched the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science databases for qualitative research on the transition-to-ward experience of patients in ICUs for the year 2023 February. The quality of the literature was evaluated according to the qualitative research quality assessment criteria of the Joanna Briggs Institute, as outlined by the Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Healthcare. The data were then extracted from the studies, analysed and synthesised using a thematic synthesis approach. A total of 12 papers were included and the 32 findings were distilled and consolidated into three themes: emotional reactions; imperfections in the transition process; differences between wards and ICUs; and eight sub-themes: optimism; pessimism; emotionlessness; inadequate information; inadequate communication; physical condition; differences in care; differences in environment. The transfer from an ICU to a general ward is a major change of environment for the patient and can trigger upset and anxiety. Planning for turn-out, meeting patients' information needs and easing patients' emotions are critical in this process.

Symptom Clusters in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review.

Breast cancer patients experience various adverse symptoms during adjuvant chemotherapy. These adverse symptoms often form symptom clusters and have a negative impact on patients. To summarise common symptom clusters in different dimensions and their longitudinal changes among breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. A systematic review. Ten electronic databases were searched from 2001 to January 2024, and the search was last updated on 16 August 2024. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of each study and extracted data. The Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers was used to evaluate the quality of included studies. The findings were synthesised narratively. This systematic review has been registered (CRD42022370210). Nine studies with a total of 1454 participants were included. The common symptom clusters in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were the gastrointestinal symptom cluster (nausea-lack of appetite), the fatigue-pain-sleep disturbance symptom cluster and the psychological symptom cluster (worry-sadness-nervousness-distress-feeling irritable-difficult concentrating). The severity dimension was the most frequently utilised in identifying symptom clusters, with the number and concurrence of symptom clusters showing variation over time. This study summarised common symptom clusters in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and revealed their changes from symptom dimensions and the chemotherapy process. These findings support further exploration of symptom cluster changes and underlying mechanisms, facilitating the design of targeted management strategies, including appropriate interventions and measurement dimensions in clinical nursing, to ultimately reduce patients' symptom burden. Common symptom clusters have been identified in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Clinical nursing in oncology can prioritise these symptom clusters and provide patients with targeted management strategies. PRISMA guidelines and SWiM guidelines. No patient or public contribution.

The women's cardiovascular disease risk perception after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A qualitative meta-synthesis

BackgroundHypertensive disorders of pregnancy is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life, but studies suggest that women with previous hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are not aware of this. Little is known about how these women perceive the condition and the associated long-term risks. ObjectivesThis study aims to examine and synthesize qualitative evidence on the perceptions and awareness of women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy following perceived cardiovascular disease risk. MethodsComputer searches of Pub Med, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CNKI, Wanfang database, Vip and SinoMed for all qualitative studies that met the inclusion criteria. The time frame for the search was from the establishment of the database to April 2024. Literature quality was assessed using the Australian Joanna Briggs Institute Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care Qualitative Research quality assessment criteria, and results were summarised and integrated using a pooled integration approach. ResultsEleven studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria and quality assessment were included in the meta synthesis. Three themes were identified during the analysis: (1)Factors affecting perceived cardiovascular risk in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; (2)Women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy use different strategies to cope with cardiovascular risk; (3)Needs and expectations for coping with cardiovascular disease risk. ConclusionsBoth women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and healthcare providers lack knowledge of the link between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiovascular risk. Healthcare professionals should establish a multidimensional support model, pay timely attention to postpartum women's psycho-emotional and risk awareness, and give individualised health education to promote health behaviour change. At the same time, professionals should be given standardised training and personalised follow-up services to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the future.

Frankincense: Art and Science of Resin

Abstract: Frankincense, derived from the resin of Boswellia species, has been valued for millennia across diverse cultures for its aromatic, medicinal, and economic significance. This review provides an in-depth analysis of frankincense, encompassing its historical development, geographical distribution, and trade dynamics. The paper examines the economic aspects of frankincense production, including its impact on local economies and global markets. Detailed attention is given to the plantation and harvesting practices, production statistics, and the chemical composition of frankincense. Various types and colours of frankincense are discussed, along with quality assessment criteria. The review explores the diverse properties and applications of frankincense products, including their benefits and potential side effects. Additionally, it addresses sustainable harvesting practices, conservation efforts, and regulatory considerations. The paper concludes with a summary of recent scientific research, current challenges in the industry, and future directions for exploration and improvement.

An assessment framework for smart and sustainable housing for older adults using analytic hierarchy process (AHP)

IntroductionWhile there is a call for smart and sustainable housing in general and for older adults in particular, little attention is paid to identifying the determinants of such housing and their extent of influence on the quality of life (QoL) of older adults. This study addresses the above gap by re-defining the criteria for house quality assessment, taking into account new needs of older inhabitants, while concerning digital assistive technologies.MethodsThis research uses various methods to identify and validate housing-related criteria and metrics, resulting in a transparent multi-criteria evaluation framework that accounts for the spatial needs of older adults. These include recommendations for multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM/A), expert workshop to develop new metrics and validate sub-criteria, expert survey to prioritize criteria and sub-criteria and interviews with three employees in the construction-services sector in the Netherlands, to gain knowledge on smart and healthy environments.Results and DiscussionThe results show that age-friendliness of housing function is the most significant criterion, while availability of housing modifications for seniors most important sub-criterion. Our findings can benefit architects in designing improved age- friendly spaces, older adults in evaluating their dwellings and researchers from the field of architecture in selecting most relevant method for their study.

The Experience and Needs of Living With Home Parenteral Nutrition in Adult Patients: A Meta-Synthesis ofQualitativeStudies.

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) can improve the nutritional status of patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction. However, some patients face a series of challenges during its implementation, which significantly affect their quality of life. To explore the experience and needs of living with home parenteral nutrition in adult patients. A systematic review and meta-synthesis. A search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database and Wipu Database, to explore the real-life experiences and needs of adult patients receiving HPN. The search covered the period up to March 2024. Qualitative research quality was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care Quality Assessment Criteria for Qualitative Research. Data synthesis was performed using Thomas and Harden's method of thematic and content analysis. Twelve studies, each offering qualitative data, were analysed, resulting in the identification of four themes: positive experiences of HPN; the interplay of dynamic changes across physical, mental and social levels; self-adjustment to the new normal; and multidimensional needs of patients receiving HPN. Patients receiving HPN face multiple challenges physically, psychologically and socially. This paper also reveals the supportive needs of patients in adapting to a new lifestyle with HPN. This indicates that healthcare professionals should provide comprehensive, continuous and dynamic supportive medical services to facilitate patients' reintegration and return to normal social life. As this study constitutes a meta-synthesis, patient or public contribution is not applicable. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) reporting guidelines, this meta-synthesis was conducted.

The Effectiveness of Peer-Based Interventions on the Development of Leisure Skills in Children and Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Objective To examine and synthesize the evidence regarding the effects of peer-based interventions on the leisure skills of children and youth from 3–21 years of age with neurodevelopmental disorders. Method A systematic review was conducted. Six databases were electronically searched, and 263 records were retrieved and evaluated using standard quality assessment criteria. Results Seventeen articles were included. Three main types of peer-based interventions were identified, peer mediated, peer networking, and peer mentored interventions. Conclusion There is strong evidence to suggest that peer mediated interventions, peer networking and peer mentored interventions can be beneficial for children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders to increase their participation in social, leisure, and recreational activities and develop their play, social, and leisure skills, and enhance their physical and psychosocial health and quality of life.

Laws and Provisions Related to Waqf Property and Its Maintainability as Per the Waqf Act of 1995

Waqf is part of the ibadah that is strongly demanded by Islam. The development of waqf property has played a major role as the main factor in the community’s socioeconomic development and Islamic civilization development. This study employs the four stages in conducting the SLR. It starts with identifying the research strategy where a search string is developed. The second stage is a study selection with a total of 310 papers from 2017 up to 2022 from three main academic databases, which are Scopus, Web of Science and Springer retrieved. After applying the quality assessment criteria, 67 papers were qualified for the analysis. Thematic analysis was then applied to thematically categorize the identified factors as the fourth stage in data extraction and synthesis. Several factors were found in the literature. Three broad categories were used to group the dis covered variables. The subjects include management, governance, and promotion. The study also has an empirical benefit, particularly for those looking for waqf property since it helps them understand the factors that could contribute to waqf property development. Moreover, the findings can be a component to transform the waqf property to become reproductive, sustainable, and competitive.

Affirmative Action in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize the existing literature on affirmative action in higher education. In the literature search, the researcher used different electronic databases. The databases used were ERIC, JSTOR, Willey, and Google Scholar. Search terms were formulated and applied to the online databases. A total of 80 study articles were identified, and 15 studies were included in the study after applying inclusion, exclusion, and quality assessment criteria. Research questions guided the review process. PICO was used to formulate the research questions. The paper was prepared using the planning, protocol, extraction, analysis, and reporting stages. This systematic review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria and used Zotero for reference management. The study revealed that affirmative action is provided to promote equity and access for minority and historically discriminated subgroups who wish to participate in higher education. Affirmative action is a controversial issue in higher education. Research on the effects of affirmative action in higher education has resulted in mixed outcomes. Researchers in the study of affirmative action in higher education used various research methods. The systematic literature review conducted also showed that there are still gaps in affirmative action research in higher education. To this effect, further study could be done in the future on the impact of affirmative action on students’ performance and attainment, the impact of affirmative action on labor market outcomes and earnings, and graduate rates of beneficiaries. Finally, it is uncertain what the future holds for affirmative action.

A multi-task deep learning approach for real-time view classification and quality assessment of echocardiographic images

High-quality standard views in two-dimensional echocardiography are essential for accurate cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment decisions. However, the quality of echocardiographic images is highly dependent on the practitioner’s experience. Ensuring timely quality control of echocardiographic images in the clinical setting remains a significant challenge. In this study, we aimed to propose new quality assessment criteria and develop a multi-task deep learning model for real-time multi-view classification and image quality assessment (six standard views and “others”). A total of 170,311 echocardiographic images collected between 2015 and 2022 were utilized to develop and evaluate the model. On the test set, the model achieved an overall classification accuracy of 97.8% (95%CI 97.7–98.0) and a mean absolute error of 6.54 (95%CI 6.43–6.66). A single-frame inference time of 2.8 ms was achieved, meeting real-time requirements. We also analyzed pre-stored images from three distinct groups of echocardiographers (junior, senior, and expert) to evaluate the clinical feasibility of the model. Our multi-task model can provide objective, reproducible, and clinically significant view quality assessment results for echocardiographic images, potentially optimizing the clinical image acquisition process and improving AI-assisted diagnosis accuracy.

Development of the Technology of Procurement of “Ginkrosmelan” Microcapsules from Natural Origin Materials and Assessment of Quality Criteria

Development of the Technology of Procurement of “Ginkrosmelan” Microcapsules from Natural Origin Materials and Assessment of Quality Criteria

L’utilité du facteur d’épissage SRSF1 dans le grading des tumeurs gliales: Une méta-analyse

The grading of glial tumors is based on morphological and sometimes on molecular features. Many markers have been assessed in order to grade the glial tumours without a real consensus. Some authors reported that SRSF1, a spiling factor, presents an expression correlated to the tumours grades. In this study, we aimed to assess the utility of the SRSF1 into the grading of gliomas based on its immunohistochemical expression. The authors conducted a meta-analysis under the PRISMA guidelines during a 10-year-period (2013-2023). The Meta-Disc software 5.4 (free version) was used. Q test and I2 statistics were carried out to explore the heterogeneity among studies. Meta-regression was performed in case of significant heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot test and the Egger's test (free version JASP). According to the inclusion criteria, 4 studies from 193 articles were included. The pooled SEN, SPE and DOR accounted respectively for 0.592, 0.565 and 1.852. The AUC was estimated to 0.558 suggesting a bad diagnostic accuracy. The heterogeneity in the pooled SEN and SPE was statistically significant. The meta-regression analysis focusing on the technique used, the clones, the dilution, the interpretation technique revealed no covariate factors (P>0.05). Even if this meta-analysis highlighted the absence of a real diagnostic utility of the SRSF1 in grading the glial tumours, the heterogeneity revealed reinforces the need for more prospective studies performed according to the quality assessment criteria.

Barriers to and enablers of the transition from child and adolescent to adult mental health services for autistic young people and/or those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: protocol for a scoping review

IntroductionAutistic young people and/or those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who have co-occurring mental health conditions experience significant challenges when transitioning from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)...

Theories on the Etiology of Deviant Sexual Interests: A Systematic Review.

Not much is known about the etiology, or development, of deviant sexual interests. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a broad overview of current theories on the etiology of sexual deviance. We conducted a systematic search of the databases PubMed and APA PsycInfo (EBSCO). Studies were included when they discussed a theory regarding the etiology or development of sexual deviance. Included studies were assessed on quality criteria for good theories. Common etiological themes were extracted using thematic analysis. We included 47 theories explaining sexual deviance in general as well as various specific deviant sexual interests, such as pedophilia and sadism/masochism. Few theories (k = 7) were of acceptable quality as suggested by our systematic assessment of quality criteria for good theories (QUACGOT). These theories indicated that deviant sexual interests may develop as the result of an interplay of various factors: excitation transfer between emotions and sexual arousal, conditioning, problems with "normative" sexuality, and social learning. Neurobiological findings could not be included as no acceptable quality neurobiological theories could be retrieved. The important roles of excitation transfer and conditioning designate that dynamic, changeable processes take part in the etiology of sexual deviance. These same processes could potentially be deployed to diminish unwanted deviant sexual interests.