Evaluated Study Quality Research Articles

Quality Assessment of Studies Evaluating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia in Populations with PTSD: A Systematic Review

Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate the quality of intervention studies assessing CBT-I in adult populations with PTSD. Specifically examining overall quality, specific design elements and trends over time. Method: n > 1 studies assessing CBT-I in adult populations with PTSD were included. The Randomized Controlled Trial - Psychotherapy Quality Rating Scale (RCT-PQRS) was used to evaluate study quality. Correlations between overall study quality and publication year were calculated. Results: Nine studies were included. Overall, study quality was rated as moderate. Six design elements were not addressed adequately in most studies. No significant correlation was found. Conclusions: The evidence base is of moderate quality. However, several specific design elements limit their conclusions. Strategies to minimize limitations are discussed.

Efficacy and safety of therapeutic HPV vaccines to treat CIN 2/CIN 3 lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of phase II/III clinical trials

ObjectivesWe aim to assess the efficacy and safety of therapeutic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to treat cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of grade 2 or 3 (CIN 2/3).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis, following...

Opioid Consumption Following Foot and Ankle Surgery: A Systematic Review

Category: Other; Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: The opioid epidemic in the United States has gained significant attention over the past few years. Subsequently, there have been several publications characterizing postoperative opioid consumption in patients who underwent foot and ankle surgery. Our goal was to systematically review the literature to identify trends in opioid consumption between procedures of the forefoot, midfoot, hindfoot and ankle and ultimately create finalized prescribing guidelines that treat patients’ pain adequately while limiting leftover pills. Methods: A systematic review was performed in concordance with the MOOSE guidelines. We included retrospective and prospective observational cohort studies that reported on mean opioid consumption following foot and ankle surgery, as well as unpublished data from our institution that fit the review’s parameters. We excluded studies that did not report this data or reported patients receiving alternative surgical techniques. The ROBINS-E tool was used to assess bias and the MINORS criteria was used to evaluate study quality. Results: Six studies met inclusion criteria from 395 identified articles. Reported data from 2,445 patients were analyzed for overall opioid consumption, region of surgery, and invasiveness of procedure. Five studies standardized opioids prescribed and consumed to a 5-milligram oxycodone "pill." Of the three studies reporting mean pill consumption by region of surgery, 16.1, 27.8, and 26.4 pills were consumed by forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot patients, respectively. The largest mean and median pill consumption was observed in hindfoot patients (45.7 and 22, respectively). 4 of 5 studies found significantly higher opioid use in hindfoot and ankle patients, and 2 of 5 studies found significantly higher consumption among those undergoing bony versus soft-tissue procedures. Across all studies, patients used 45.7%-75.2% of their opioid prescriptions. Conclusion: In this systematic review, we identify literature reported mean number of recommended pills to be subscribed for each anatomical region, as prescriptions could be decreased by around half and still adequately control pain. This can be of significant aid in providing final guidelines to orthopedic surgeons to finalize prescription patterns in foot and ankle surgery based on the published literature.

Systematic and meta-based evaluation of the relationship between the built environment and physical activity behaviors among older adults.

Existing assertions about the relationship between various factors of the built environment and physical activity behaviors are inconsistent and warrant further exploration and analysis. This study systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, the Cochrane Library and Google Scholar for the effect of the built environment on the physical activity behaviors of older adults. R software was used to calculate the meta-estimated odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Simultaneously, the quality of included studies was evaluated using an observational study quality evaluation standard recommended by American health care quality and research institutions. A total of 16 original researches were included in this meta-analysis and eight factors of the built environment were evaluated. These factors which ranked from high to low according to their impact were traffic safety (OR = 1.58, 95% CI [1.14-2.20]), destination accessibility (OR = 1.24, 95% CI [1.06-1.44]), aesthetics of sports venues (OR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.07-1.37]), virescence of sports venues (OR = 1.14, 95% CI [1.06-1.23]), building density (OR = 1.07, 95% CI [1.02-1.13]). Additionally, it seemed that there was no potential association between mixed land use (OR = 1.01, 95% CI [0.92-1.10]), the quality of pedestrian facilities (OR = 1.00, 95% CI [0.92-1.08]) or commercial facilities (OR = 0.94, 95% CI [0.88-1.00]) and physical activity behaviors of older adults. The built environment has been found to exhibit a significant relationship with the physical activity behaviors of older adults. It is proposed that factors such as traffic safety, destination accessibility, aesthetics of sports venues, virescence of sports venues, and building density be given more consideration when aiming to promote physical activity levels among older adults.

Using Augmented Reality Toward Improving Social Skills: Scoping Review.

Augmented reality (AR) has emerged as a promising technology in educational settings owing to its engaging nature. However, apart from applications aimed at the autism spectrum disorder population, the potential of AR in social-emotional learning has received less attention. This scoping review aims to map the range of AR applications that improve social skills and map the characteristics of such applications. In total, 2 independent researchers screened 2748 records derived from 3 databases in December 2021-PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Guide to Computing Literature. In addition, the reference lists of all the included records and existing reviews were screened. Records that had developed a prototype with the main outcome of improving social skills were included in the scoping review. Included records were narratively described for their content regarding AR and social skills, their target populations, and their outcomes. Evaluation studies were assessed for methodological quality. A total of 17 records met the inclusion criteria for this study. Overall, 10 records describe applications for children with autism, primarily teaching about reading emotions in facial expressions; 7 records describe applications for a general population, targeting both children and adults, with a diverse range of outcome goals. The methodological quality of evaluation studies was found to be weak. Most applications are designed to be used alone, although AR is well suited to facilitating real-world interactions during a digital experience, including interactions with other people. Therefore, future AR applications could endorse social skills in a general population in more complex group settings.

A quality assessment framework for evaluating study quality and risk of bias of studies of air pollution and preterm birth

A quality assessment framework for evaluating study quality and risk of bias of studies of air pollution and preterm birth

Effectiveness of videoconference-delivered psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and their parents: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Over the last years, videoconference-delivered psychotherapy (VCP) has found its way into clinical practice. This meta-analysis is the first to evaluate the effectiveness of VCP for children and adolescents with a mental disorder and their parents. A systematic literature search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the effectiveness of VCP for youths with a mental disorder to a control condition. Twelve studies were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data and rated study quality. Effect size estimates for measures of children's symptoms of mental disorders were large for comparison between VCP and waitlist (posttreatment: Hedges's g = -1.26, k = 5) and negligible for comparisons between VCP and in-person treatment (posttreatment: g = 0.00, k = 6; follow-up: g = -0.05, k = 3). Similarly, effect size estimates for measures of children's functional impairments were large for comparison between VCP and waitlist (posttreatment: g = -1.10, k = 3) and negligible for comparisons between VCP and in-person treatment (posttreatment: g = -0.23, k = 3; follow-up: g = 0.04, k = 2). VCP more effectively reduced symptoms in children with an internalizing disorder (g = -0.88, k = 5) compared to externalizing disorders (g = 0.25, k = 2) or tic disorders (g = -0.08, k = 3). The results provide preliminary evidence that VCP is an effective treatment for youths with a mental disorder and their parents. VCP was equally effective as in-person treatment in reducing children's symptoms and functional impairments. Limitations include the limited number of RCTs and incomplete reporting of methodological features.

Membranous urethral length and urinary incontinence following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: asystematic review and meta-analysis.

To provide an update on the association between preoperative membranous urethral length (MUL) and postoperative urinary incontinence (UI) in men who undergo robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP)/robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Urinary incontinence is common after RARP/RALP, and early recovery of continence is one of the most important functional outcomes following surgery. MUL has been identified as a factor associated with continence recovery after RARP/RALP. A systematic review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria were English language full journal articles authored within the last 5 years that assessed continence using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool for retrospective cohort studies was used to evaluate study quality. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to pool odds ratios (ORs) from available studies relating to continence as a function of MUL. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations framework was used to synthesise evidence. Six studies including 970 patients reported an association between MUL and continence at 12 months. Longer MUL was associated with reduced UI odds at 12 months after surgery (pooled OR 0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.68-0.87, P < 0.001). Significant methodological and statistical heterogeneity was encountered. Preoperative MUL measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is significantly associated with postoperative continence in men undergoing RARP/RALP. We recommend consideration of MRI measurement of MUL prior to RARP/RALP to guide treatment decisions in this population.

Integration of non-targeted multicomponent profiling, targeted characteristic chromatograms and quantitative to accomplish systematic quality evaluation strategy of Huo-Xiang-Zheng-Qi oral liquid

Huo-Xiang-Zheng-Qi oral liquid (HXZQOL) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine formula for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, with the pharmacologic effects of antiinflammatory, immune protection and gastrointestinal motility regulation. More significantly, HXZQOL is recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, and it has been clinically proven to reduce the inflammatory response in patients with COVID-19. However, the effective and overall quality control of HXZQOL is currently limited due to its complex composition, especially the large amount of volatile and non-volatile active components involved. In this study, aimed to fully develop a comprehensive strategy based on non-targeted multicomponent identification, targeted authentication and quantitative analysis for quality evaluation of HXZQOL from different batches. Firstly, the non-targeted high-definition MSE (HDMSE) approach is established based on UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS, utilized for multicomponent comprehensive characterization of HXZQOL. Combined with in house library-driven automated peak annotation and comparison of 47 reference compounds, 195 components were initially identified. In addition, HS-SPME-GC-MS was employed to analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in HXZQOL, and a total of 61 components were identified by comparison to the NIST database, reference compounds as well as retention indices. Secondly, based on the selective ion monitoring (SIM) of 24 “identity markers” (involving each herbal medicine), characteristic chromatograms (CCs) were established on LC-MS and GC-MS respectively, to authenticate 15 batches of HXZQOL samples. The targeted-SIM CCs showed that all marker compounds in 15 batches of samples could be accurately monitored, which could indicate preparations authenticity. Finally, a parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) method was established and validated to quantify the nine compounds in 15 batches of HXZQOL. Conclusively, this study first reports chemical-material basis, SIM CCs and quality evaluation of HXZQOL, which is of great implication to quality control and ensuring the authenticity of the preparation.

Violence against nurses by patients and visitors in the emergency department: An integrative review.

This integrative review explored violence against emergency nurses by patients/visitors, examining its nature, contributing factors and consequences. Integrative review. Articles were obtained from PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science and PsycInfo databases, up until December 2021. 26 articles were reviewed, evaluating study quality with the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool and synthesizing conclusions through theme development and coding. This review delves into the issue of violence perpetrated against emergency nurses by patients and visitors. It elucidates three overarching themes: the nature of violence, the contributing factors and the consequences of such acts. The findings inform healthcare policy for the development of prevention approaches while identifying research gaps and emphasizing the need for alternative study designs and methodologies. This review has implications for nursing practice, policymaking and research, emphasizing the need for stakeholder engagement and tailored interventions for at-risk emergency nurses. This project was an integrative review of the literature therefore no patient or public contribution was necessary. Violence by patients and visitors in healthcare settings, especially in emergency departments, has garnered considerable attention. This review specifically examines violence-targeting emergency department nurses from patients and visitors, assessing its characteristics, contributing factors and consequences. The findings will guide stakeholder engagement in developing interventions to support vulnerable emergency nurses.

Clinical efficacy and safety of folic acid and vitamin B12 for the adjuvant treatment of schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Given the different effects of folate and vitamin B12 on the ad-juvant treatment of schizophrenia (SCH), their efficacy and safety as adjuvant therapies for SCH were systematically evaluated by evidence-based medicine. Publication retrieval was performed using authoritative databases such as the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science to screen randomized con-trolled trials (RCTs). After the quality evaluation and data extraction of includ-ed studies, eligible RCTs were systematically reviewed using Review Manager 5.2 software. In total, 14 RCTs were included. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that as the adjuvant therapy for SCH, vitamin B12 differed significantly from folate in terms of anxiety relief rate [odds ratio (OR)=1.28, 95% con-fidence interval (CI) (1.02, 1.61), p=0.03, I2 =0%, Z=2.13]. However, there were no significant differences in the incidence rate of mania [OR=1.13, 95% CI (0.78,1.65), p=0.65, I2=36%, Z=0.65], total efficacy [OR=1.06, 95% CI (0.72, 1.56), p=0.77, I2=0%, Z=0.30] and incidence rate of adverse reactions [OR=1.15, 95% CI (0.88, 1.49), p=0.31, I2=0%, Z=1.03]. Although folate and vitamin B12 exhibit no significant differences in the adjuvant treatment of SCH, vitamin B12 exerts markedly fewer side effects than folate drugs, and it is of de-terminant significance for the clinical adjuvant medication of SCH.

Diabetes and incidence of breast cancer and its molecular subtypes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been proposed to be positively associated with breast cancer (BCa) risk due to shared risk factors, metabolic dysfunction, and the use of antidiabetic medications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between DM and BCa risk. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for cohort and case-control studies assessing the association between DM and BCa published before 10 December 2021. Two reviewers independently screened the studies for inclusion, abstracted article data, and rated study quality. Random effects models were used to estimate summary risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). From 8396 articles identified in the initial search, 70 independent studies were included in the meta-analysis. DM was associated with an overall increased risk of BCa (RR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.11-1.29). The 24 case-control studies demonstrated a stronger association (RR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.13-1.40) than the 46 cohort studies (RR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.05-1.27). Studies reporting risk by menopausal status found that postmenopausal women had an elevated risk of developing BCa (RR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.07-1.17). No association between DM and BCa risk was observed among premenopausal women (RR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.85-1.05). In addition, DM was associated with significantly increased risks of oestrogen receptor (ER)+ (RR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.00-1.20), ER- (RR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.04-1.30), and triple negative BCa (RR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.01-1.96). The association estimate for human epidermal growth factor 2-positive BCa was also positive (RR=1.21, 95% CI: 0.52-2.82), but the CI was wide and crossed the null. Our meta-analysis confirms a modest positive association between DM and BCa risk. In addition, our results suggest that the association between DM and BCa may be modified by menopausal status, and that DM may be differentially associated with BCa subtypes defined by receptor status. Additional studies are warranted to investigate the mechanisms underlying these associations and any influence of DM on BCa receptor expression.

Systematic review of the association between talc and female reproductive tract cancers.

Talc is a hydrous magnesium sheet silicate used in cosmetic powders, ceramics, paints, rubber, and many other products. We conducted a systematic review of the potential carcinogenicity of genitally applied talc in humans. Our systematic review methods adhere to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and incorporated aspects from the US Institute of Medicine (IOM, now the National Academy of Medicine) and several US EPA frameworks for systematic reviews, evaluating and integrating the epidemiological, animal, and mechanistic literature on talc and cancer. We conducted a comprehensive literature search. Detailed data abstraction and study quality evaluation, adapting the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) framework, were central to our analysis. The literature search and selection process identified 40 primary studies that assessed exposure to talc and female reproductive cancer risks in humans (n = 36) and animals (n = 4). The results of our evaluation emphasize the importance of considering biological plausibility and study quality in systematic review. Integrating all streams of evidence according to the IOM framework yielded classifications of suggestive evidence of no association between perineal application of talcum powders and risk of ovarian cancer at human-relevant exposure levels. We also concluded that there is suggestive evidence of no association between genital talc application and endometrial cancer, and insufficient evidence to determine whether a causal association exists between genital talc application and cervical cancer based on a smaller but largely null body of literature.

Factors Associated With Quality of Life Among Posttreatment Cancer Survivors in Korea: A Meta-analysis.

Identification of factors associated with quality of life (QOL) among cancer survivors is crucial for identifying potential targets for intervention. We aimed to provide evidence of factors associated with the QOL among posttreatment cancer survivors in Korea. We performed a systematic literature search from January 2000 to September 2022 using PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Korean databases (RISS, SCIENCEON). We evaluated study quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute Quality Appraisal Checklists for Analytical Cross-sectional Studies and performed statistical analysis using the R 3.0 software (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) package. We analyzed the pooled effect sizes of potential QOL correlates by the random-effects model. This meta-analysis included 31 studies with 8934 participants. The pooled estimates were significantly large for economic status (r = -0.53); significantly medium for fatigue (r = -0.39), anxiety (r = -0.29), depression (r = -0.42), self-efficacy (r = 0.37), and social support (r = 0.30); and significantly small for education level (r = -0.18), job status (r = -0.09), cancer stage (r = -0.20), and time since diagnosis (r = -0.26). Low education level, having no job, low economic status, advanced cancer stage, short disease period, fatigue, anxiety, and depression were significantly associated with worse QOL, whereas self-efficacy and social support were significantly associated with better QOL. The findings have potential implications for identifying "at-risk survivors" of deteriorated QOL and for suggesting powerful strategies (eg, enhancing self-efficacy or social support) for improving QOL.

Impact of Standardised Patient Simulation Training on Clinical Competence, Knowledge, and Attitudes in Mental Health Nursing Education

BACKGROUND: The limited practical placement opportunities in mental health care often induce uncertainty among nursing students. To ameliorate this, simulation training, especially with standardized patients (SPs), is employed to promote clinical competence, allowing students to navigate the complexities associated with mental health nursing, including stigma and stereotypes.&#x0D; &#x0D; OBJECTIVE: This systematic literature review primarily aims to explore and synthesise the studies in simulation education research conducted related to the effects of SPs on clinical competence, knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate pre-registration mental health nursing students.&#x0D; &#x0D; METHODS: following the systematic literature review approach, a comprehensive search was conducted across five electronic databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus. The PICO model guided the identification of search terms. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) evaluated study quality.&#x0D; &#x0D; RESULTS: Ten studies were included, all examining the impact of SP simulations on undergraduate nursing students. Of these, five evaluated confidence and anxiety levels, while two assessed competence and satisfaction. Other aspects such as motivation, preparation, knowledge, communication skills, and critical thinking were examined individually. The collective results indicate SP simulation as a potentially efficacious strategy for enhancing competencies in graduate nursing education.&#x0D; &#x0D; CONCLUSION: Across all studies, SPs in simulation methods exerted a positive influence on mental health nursing education, bolstering students&amp;#39; preparation for clinical practice by reducing anxiety and fostering confidence, competence, knowledge, and communication skills. However, limitations including insufficient supervision, small sample sizes, homogenous samples, and absence of control groups were present in all studies. Future research should address these issues to fortify evidence supporting the use of SPs in mental health nursing education.&#x0D; &#x0D; RECOMMENDATIONS: Further robust, experimental research with larger sample sizes and validated assessment tools is needed to corroborate these findings and explore the effects of SP simulations on a wider array of learning outcomes.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination and Assisted Reproduction Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To assess the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and female assisted reproduction outcomes through a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched Medline (OVID), EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov on January 11, 2023, for original articles on assisted reproduction outcomes after COVID-19 vaccination. The primary outcome was rates of clinical pregnancy; secondary outcomes included number of oocytes retrieved, number of mature oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and live-birth rate. Two reviewers independently screened citations for relevance, extracted pertinent data, and rated study quality. Only peer-reviewed published studies were included. Our query retrieved 216 citations, of which 25 were studies with original, relevant data. Nineteen studies reported embryo transfer outcomes, with a total of 4,899 vaccinated and 13,491 unvaccinated patients. Eighteen studies reported data on ovarian stimulation outcomes, with a total of 1,878 vaccinated and 3,174 unvaccinated patients. There were no statistically significant results among our pooled data for any of the primary or secondary outcomes: clinical pregnancy rate (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% CI 0.88-1.01, P =.10), number of oocytes retrieved (mean difference -0.26, 95% CI -0.68 to 0.15, P =.21), number of mature oocytes retrieved (mean difference 0.31, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.75, P =.18), fertilization rate (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.87-1.11, P =.83), implantation rate (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84-1.00, P =.06), ongoing pregnancy rate (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.86-1.06, P =.40), or live-birth rate (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.78-1.17, P =.63). A subanalysis based on country of origin and vaccine type was also performed for the primary and secondary outcomes and did not change the study results. Vaccination against COVID-19 is not associated with different fertility outcomes in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. PROSPERO, CRD42023400023.

Applying Shear Wave and Magnetic Resonance Elastography to Grade Brain Tumors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Reports find that magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and shear wave elastography (SWE) can classify intracranial tumors according to stiffness. However, systematic syntheses of these articles are lacking. To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating whether SWE and MRE can predict meningioma and glioma grades. PubMed and Scopus were searched between February 10, 2022 and March 2, 2022 using manual search criteria. 8 out of 106 non-duplicate records were included, encompassing 84 patients with low-grade tumors (age: 42±13, 71% female) and 92 patients with high-grade tumors (age: 50±13, 42% female). Standardized mean difference in stiffness between high-grade and low-grade tumors were measured using a forest plot. The I2, X2, and T-tests were performed, and bubble plots were constructed to measure heterogeneity. An adapted QUADAS-2 scale evaluated study quality. Additionally, a funnel plot was constructed, and an Egger's intercept test determined study bias. Low-grade tumors were stiffer than high-grade tumors (Cohen's D = -1.25; 95% CI [-1.88, -0.62]). Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 67%; p=0.006) but controlling for publication year (I2 = 0.2%) and age (I2 = 0.0-17%) reduced heterogeneity. Included studies revealed unclear or high bias for the reference standard and flow and timing (>50%). Elastography techniques have potential to grade tumors intraoperatively and postoperatively. More studies are needed to evaluate the clinical utility of these technologies.

Quality of reporting of prospective in vivo and ex vivo studies published in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care over a 10-year period (2009-2019).

To evaluate the reporting of key items associated with risk of bias and weak study design over a 10-year period. Literature survey. Not applicable. Not applicable. Papers published in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care between 2009 and 2019 were screened for inclusion. Inclusion criteria consisted of prospective experimental studies describing in vivo or ex vivo research (or both), containing at least 2 comparison groups. Identified papers had identifying information (publication date, volume and issue, authors, affiliations) redacted by an individual not involved with paper selection or review. Two reviewers independently reviewed all papers and applied an operationalized checklist to categorize item reporting as fully reported, partially reported, not reported, or not applicable. Items assessed included randomization, blinding, data handling (inclusions and exclusions), and sample size estimation. Differences in assessment between reviewers were resolved by consensus with a third reviewer. A secondary aim was to document availability of data used to generate study results. Papers were screened for links to access data in the text and supporting information. After screening, 109 papers were included. Eleven papers were excluded during full-text review, with 98 papers included in the final analysis. Randomization was fully reported in 31.6% of papers (31/98). Blinding was fully reported in 31.6% of papers (31/98). Inclusion criteria were fully reported in all papers. Exclusion criteria were fully reported in 60.2% of papers (59/98). Sample size estimation was fully reported in 8.0% of papers (6/75). No papers (0/99) made data freely available without a requirement to contact study authors. There is substantial room for improvement in reporting of randomization, blinding, data exclusions, and sample size estimations. Evaluation of study quality by readers is limited by the low reporting levels identified, and the risk of bias present indicates a potential for inflated effect sizes.

Yoga for proprioception: A systematic review

ABSTRACT Proprioception is an important and effective measure for neuromuscular function training. Researchers primarily use the joint position sense (JPS) to assess proprioception. The study’s aim was to conduct a systematic review of the research on yoga for improving proprioception, with the objective of providing a systematic review for the various bodies’ JPSs. Relevant articles were found using the keywords “Yoga AND Proprioception” and “Yoga AND Joint Position Sense (JPS)” in major databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, EMBASE, and the Cochran Library. The peer-reviewed English language articles published between January 2011 and December 2021 were included in the study. Individually, the rated study quality was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. The possible scores ranged from 0 to 27. Where possible, the effect size was calculated in the article. Three of the 60 identified studies met the inclusion criteria: one randomized controlled trial and two quasi-experimental studies. All three studies discovered a positive improvement in JPS. The current research has shown that yogic intervention may have a positive effect on proprioception, but research is limited. The number of studies was small, and more research on specific poses for improving proprioception is needed.

Health Disparities among Rural Individuals with Mental Health Conditions: A Systematic Literature Review.

There is growing concern about the availability of healthcare services for rural patients. This systematic literature review evaluates original research on health disparities among rural and urban populations with mental health conditions in North America. Using PRISMA guidelines, we used four electronic databases (Pubmed, Cochrane, PsychInfo, Web of Science) and hand searches and included original research conducted in the United States or Canada before July 2021 that compared health outcomes of patients with any mental health disorder in rural versus non-rural areas. Both qualitative and quantitative data were extracted including demographics, mental health condition, health disparity measure, rural definition, health outcome measures/main findings, and delivery method. To evaluate study quality, the modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used. Our initial search returned 491 studies and 17 studies met final inclusion criteria. Mental health disorders included schizophrenia (4 studies), PTSD (10), mood disorders (9), and anxiety disorders (6). Total sample size was 5,314,818 with the majority being military veterans. Six studies (35.2%) showed no significant rural-urban disparities while eleven (64.7%) identified at least one. Of those, nine reported worse outcomes for rural patients. The most common disparities were diagnostic differences, increased suicide rates and access problems. This review found mixed results regarding outcomes in rural patients with mental health disorders. Disparities were found regarding risk of suicide and access to services. Telehealth in addition to in person outreach to these rural communities may be alternatives to impact these outcomes.