Meta-synthesis Of Qualitative Studies Research Articles

Fear of the Cancer Coming Back: A Metasynthesis of Fear of Recurrence in Breast Cancer.

This review aimed to consolidate existing knowledge on this phenomenon by incorporating direct testimonies from individuals who have experienced breast cancer. A thorough metasynthesis of qualitative studies was conducted. English articles published prior to September 18 2023 were searched from eight databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, the Chinese biomedical literature service system, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Wanfang Database, and the Wipu Database. After screening the titles, abstracts, and full texts, six articles were finally included in the quality appraisal and metaaggregation. A total of 30 research findings were distilled and integrated into three themes: causes of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR); feelings of FCR; coping with FCR; and six subthemes: disease treatment factors; psychological factors; FCR is worry and fear; overcoming; negative response; positive response. FCR is a subjective feeling; it is influenced by the interplay between the external environment (adjuvant therapy) and internal environment (psychological factors). Therefore, future care measures should be designed comprehensively, considering the individual characteristics of breast cancer survivors and the external environment. This could be the primary focus for addressing FCR in cancer patients in the future.

The real experiences of nurses after patient suicide: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

To systematically evaluate the qualitative study of nurses' real experience after patient suicide, and to provide theoretical basis for reducing the influence of patient suicide on nurses and reducing the incidence of patient suicide. A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. These databases including The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CMB, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP were searched by computer to collect relate qualitative researches. The retrieval time was from database established to February 2024. Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Research Quality Evaluation Form was used to evaluate the literature quality and Meta-integration. A total of 12 studies were included and 47 results were obtained, which were summarized into 8 new categories and 3 integrated results were obtained. Theme 1: impact on nurses themselves; Theme 2: the nurse's thoughts and suggestions of patient suicide; Theme 3: coping strategy. Nursing managers should fully pay attention to nurses' feelings and cognitive attitudes after patients' suicide events, strengthen psychological counseling for nurses, so as to reduce the impact of patients' suicide events on nurses.

Experiences and perceptions of patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

The systematic evaluation of relevant qualitative studies on the experiences of patients with ankylosing spondylitis provides a foundation for the clinical development of personalized disease management programs for this patient category. Multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang, CBM, and VIP, were searched for qualitative research literature on the experiences of patients with ankylosing spondylitis from the inception of databases to March 2024. Eligible studies were included, and quality was assessed using the quality evaluation standard of qualitative research at the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), Australia (2016). The results were integrated using the meta-aggregation approach. A total of 11 papers were included in the review. Four themes and 10 subthemes were synthesized: (1) difficulties in diagnosis and treatment; (2) effects of disease symptoms; (3) maladjustment of social roles; and (4) lack of support for disease response. Medical staff should leverage the advantages of the Internet to enhance knowledge and education on ankylosing spondylitis. They should focus on patients' mental health, assist in active self-management, provide personalized interventions, promote recovery, and improve the quality of life for patients. Additionally, society should offer a diverse range of support.

Self-management in young and middle-aged patients with hypertension: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

BackgroundThere has been a sharp increase in the prevalence of hypertension in young and middle-aged people at high risk of the disease. Despite the fact that good self-management can be effective in controlling blood pressure, patients do not perform well in this area, resulting in poor blood pressure control. It is therefore particularly important to gain a thorough understanding of patients’ attitudes to self-management and the factors that influence them. The aim of this study was to synthesise the qualitative research on attitudes, motivations and challenges of self-management in young and middle-aged hypertensive patients, to analyse the synthesised results using the COM-B model and to propose appropriate improvement actions.MethodsFrom the time of construction until May 2023, the system searched PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest, Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsyCINFO and CNKI databases. The analyses were carried out using a thematic synthesis approach to summarise the key findings. The findings were then mapped and analysed using the COM-B model.ResultsA total of 11 studies were included, involving 250 patients between the ages of 18 and 64. Four themes with ten sub-themes were identified: Poor disease recognition (low disease perception, fuzzy disease knowledge); Barriers to doctor-patient interactions (short communication time, unmet knowledge needs, incomplete guidance for disease management); Living in a hostile environment (heavy workload, lack of companionship, ignorance of families); Expectations for a healthy body (responsibility of family roles, witness the cruelty of illness). Analysis of the composite results based on the COM-B model showed that low disease perceptions, barriers to doctor-patient interactions and life circumstances with enemies on all sides were the main challenges faced by young and middle-aged hypertensive patients, whereas the expectation of a healthy body was a motivation to promote self-management of blood pressure in patients.ConclusionsThis study shows that family responsibilities are a particular motivator for self-management in young and middle-aged hypertensive patients. In response to the problems they face, we believe that meeting patients’ knowledge needs, improving healthcare professionals’ communication skills and valuing the role of community hospitals are effective ways to promote patient self-management. In the future, telemedicine, mobile healthcare and intelligent monitoring devices will provide a solution to reduce the burden on medical resources.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42018100810.

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.

How Do People Who Undergo Ketamine Treatment for a Psychiatric Problem Subjectively Experience This Intervention? A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies.

Ketamine treatment has shown promising effects for different mental disorders. Yet, little is known on how people who receive ketamine for a psychiatric problem subjectively experience undergoing this intervention. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify relevant qualitative research on the first-person experience of undergoing ketamine treatment in a psychiatric context. 24 eligible studies were identified and analysed using a thematic meta-synthesis approach. Three main themes were identified. First, 'The Ketamine treatment experience can be understood as a three-stage journey with unique clinical features at each stage'. Second, 'The subjective experience of acute ketamine treatment is multifaceted and complex'. Third, 'Ketamine treatment can have different positive effects-but what happens if it does not work?'. In summary, the subjective experience of receiving ketamine treatment for a psychiatric problem can be understood as a journey whereby patients move towards, then undergo, and eventually depart from ketamine. Before treatment, the experiential focus lies on expectations, hopes, and feelings towards the drug. During treatment, the drug's multifaceted psychotropic effects and how they are emotionally appraised become central to experience. Once treatment is finished, the focus is on the presence or absence of clinically relevant effects. The conceptual framework we propose can guide further qualitative research on this topic and aid mental health professionals to better understand the experience of patients who undergo ketamine treatment for a psychiatric problem.

Experiences and perceptions of palliative care patients receiving virtual reality therapy: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

BackgroundThe combination of virtual reality (VR) and palliative care potentially represents a new opportunity for palliative care. Many previous studies have evaluated the application of VR therapy to patients with advanced disease receiving palliative care. However, patient-perspective reviews to comprehensively understand the actual experiences and feelings of patients and provide practical guidance for designing future studies are currently lacking. This review of qualitative evidence aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of patients receiving VR therapy in palliative care.MethodsThis study was conducted in accordance with the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) statement guidelines. Ten databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, OVID MEDLINE, Scopus, John Wiley, ProQuest, CNKI, WANFANG DATA, and SinoMed, were searched, and qualitative and mixed studies from the establishment of each database to June 30, 2023 were included. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The data included in the literature were analyzed and integrated by “thematic synthesis” to formalize the identification and development of themes.ResultsThe nine selected studies altogether included 156 participants from seven hospice care facilities of different types and two oncology centers. Three key themes were identified: experiences of palliative care patients in VR therapy, the perceived value that palliative care patients gain in VR therapy, and perspectives of palliative care patients toward using VR therapy.ConclusionsThe patients’ feedback covered discomfort caused by VR devices, good sense of experiences, and situations that affected the interactive experience. Some patients were unable to tolerate VR therapy or reported newer forms of discomfort. The findings indicated that VR therapy may be an effective approach to relieve patients’ physical and psychological pain and help them gain self-awareness. Moreover, patients showed a preference for personalized VR therapy.

The breastfeeding experience of women with multiple pregnancies: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

BackgroundThe experiences and challenges associated with breastfeeding multiple births can be considerably more complex than those of singletons. Multiple births refer to the delivery of more than one offspring in a single birth event. Emphasizing the needs and experiences of mothers with multiple births during breastfeeding can enable healthcare providers to design targeted interventions that enhance breastfeeding rates. However, existing breastfeeding and health education resources and practices do not fully meet the needs of women who breastfeed multiples. This review aimed to review and synthesize qualitative studies on the breastfeeding experiences of women with multiple births.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in 10 electronic databases for papers published from the inception of the database to March 2024. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was utilized to evaluate the methodological quality of the studies included. The thematic synthesis method of Thomas and Harden was employed to integrate and analyze the included literature to derive new categories and conclusions.FindingsEight studies met the inclusion criteria and quality assessment criteria for this study. Through the integration of their results, four themes were identified: the choice and willingness to breastfeed multiple births; the challenges of breastfeeding multiple births; stage management and individualised adaptation of breastfeeding; and the experience of support.ConclusionThroughout the feeding process from pregnancy to the postpartum period, mothers with multiple births often have predominantly negative experiences with breastfeeding. Consequently, hospitals should create a multidisciplinary follow-up team comprising obstetrics, neonatology, psychology, and community services to offer specialized and personalized support to these women at various stages.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/], identifier [PROSPERO 2024 CRD42024520348].

The experiences and perceptions of employers on cancer survivors returning to work: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

Employers play an important role in the return-to-work (RTW) of cancer survivors (CSs), and recently a substantial number of qualitative studies from the employers' perspective have emerged. This meta-synthesis aims to systematically review these qualitative studies regarding employers' experiences with CSs' RTW. Five electronic databases were searched from inception to January 2024 to identify the studies. Three researchers conducted quality assessment of included. Subsequent, we performed thematic integration of the included studies with the NVivo 11 software. Thirteen qualitative studies were included, and 16 topics were finally extracted and summarized into seven categories to form three integrated themes: employers' perspective on facilitators and obstacles for CSs' RTW, employers' response including negative emotion and positive behavior, and employers' need resources from different aspects. CSs' RTW is influenced by many factors; the support employers need is also extensive and complex. Employers need more support beyond healthcare.

Parents' Experiences of Communicating With Children About Their Diagnosis of Nonterminal Cancer and Its Related Issues: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies.

Many children experience serious symptoms when they are diagnosed with and treated for cancer. Through appropriate parent-child communication, parents were able to identify children's physical and psychological problems, adjust their behavior, and help them cope with the disease. This study aimed to systematically search for and integrate evidence from qualitative studies on communication between parents and children with nonterminal cancer from parents' perspectives. A thorough systematic review and metasynthesis of qualitative studies were conducted. Articles were searched from PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PsycArticles from the database inception to November 6, 2022. After screening and quality appraisal, 14 articles were finally included in the metasynthesis. Three themes and 11 subthemes were identified: (1) communication content, including diagnosis, treatment, health management, health risk, and emotion; (2) factors influencing communication, including ages of children, parents' experience of communication, parents' awareness of protection, and culture; and (3) children's responses, including acceptance and resistance. This systematic review found that parents were influenced by various factors during the decision-making process of parent-child communication about childhood cancer and its related issues. Parents tended to adjust their communication content and style to protect their children. Future research should be conducted to explore children's experiences of communicating with their parents and analyze the similarities and differences between the communication needs of parents and children. Healthcare professionals should provide professional communication guidance to facilitate the parent-child relationship and improve the mental health of both children and their parents.

Factors Influencing the Self-management of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Studies.

Patients with breast cancer have an estimated 14% to 60% risk of developing lymphedema after treatment. Self-management behavior strategies regarding lymphedema are essential in preventing and alleviating the severity of lymphedema. The aim of this study was to evaluate qualitative research evidence on the potential influencing factors for self-management behaviors of lymphedema in patients with breast cancer. A systematic search of 10 electronic databases was conducted to identify qualitative studies on patient experience of lymphedema self-management. The following databases were included and appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist: Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Med Online, and Chinese Biomedical Database. The literature search yielded 5313 studies, of which only 22 qualitative studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Five synthesized findings were derived encompassing personal characteristics, personal knowledge and experience, personal health beliefs, self-regulation skills and abilities, and social influences and support. Patients with breast cancer are confronted with many challenges when performing self-management of lymphedema. Therefore, it is important to recognize potential facilitators and barriers to further offer practical recommendations that promote self-management activities for lymphedema. Healthcare professionals should receive consistent training on lymphedema management. On the basis of individual patient characteristics, tailored education and support should be provided, including transforming irrational beliefs, and improving related knowledge and skills, with the aim to promote self-management behaviors with respect to lymphedema.

Perspectives of patients in relation to the role of the general practice pharmacist: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

Abstract Introduction The integration of general practice pharmacists (GPPs) into general practice across the United Kingdom (UK) and internationally has been tested and supported through different initiatives.[1] The intention of this integration was to address issues relating to primary care workforce and workload.[1] However, there is limited evidence available on the views of patients about the GPP role.[1] Aim To synthesise qualitative research evidence on patients’ views of the GPP role in general practice. Methods A systematic, qualitative meta-synthesis was undertaken. A search of six electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, IPA and CINAHL) was conducted from the date of inception to May 2023; reference lists of included studies were also reviewed. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed studies which addressed the views of patients about the GPP role in general practice, in the English language, had used qualitative methods for data collection and analysis; no date restrictions were applied. Findings and verbatim quotes relevant to patients’ views were extracted. This was followed by applying the thematic synthesis approach of Thomas and Harden to the extracted data.[2] The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist was used to assess quality of the included studies.[2] The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023423623). Results Eight qualitative studies were included, of which five were conducted in the UK and three in Australia. Most studies used interviews to collect data (n=6). The total number of participants was 139 and sample sizes across studies ranged from 7 to 34. Two main analytical themes were generated. The first theme related to perceptions of the GPP role such as benefits (patients believed the GPP increased their knowledge and adherence to medications, rationalised drug therapy, and improved health outcomes) and challenges (patients felt that because GPPs were only available for specific hours every week and on certain days, this was a disadvantage) for patients. The second theme related to attitudes towards the GPP role such as acceptance (acceptability levels of the GPP and their role in general practice among patients were high and no objections were reported when patients were asked to meet with the GPP) and disappointment (some patients were not happy about the way in which medication review was conducted or its outcome). Overall, included studies demonstrated high methodological quality, meeting all or at least seven of the 10 criteria of the CASP checklist.[2] Conclusion The findings have shown that there were benefits and challenges associated with the GPP role, along with acceptance and disappointment. The method adopted (i.e. qualitative meta-synthesis) is considered an essential technique for informing practice, policy, and research in healthcare and pharmacy, and has highlighted patients’ views in this study. However, our searches only retrieved studies published in English. Thus, it is possible that there are relevant studies in other languages which have not been identified. Further work is needed to assess patients’ views on the role of the GPP and how this relationship can be developed.

Influential factors in the adoption of clinical decision support systems in hospital settings: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

PurposeAdoption of Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) is a crucial step towards the digital transition of the healthcare sector. This review aims to determine and synthesise the influential factors in CDSS adoption in inpatient healthcare settings in order to grasp an understanding of the phenomenon and identify future research gaps.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature search of five databases (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus) was conducted between January 2010 and June 2023. The search strategy was a combination of the following keywords and their synonyms: clinical decision support, hospital or secondary care and influential factors. The quality of studies was evaluated against a 40-point rating scale.FindingsThirteen papers were systematically reviewed and synthesised and deductively classified into three main constructs of the Technology–Organisation–Environment theory. Scarcity of papers investigating CDSS adoption and its challenges, especially in developing countries, was evident.Practical implicationsThis study offers a summative account of challenges in the CDSS procurement process. Strategies to help adopters proactively address the challenges are: (1) Hospital leaders need a clear digital strategy aligned with stakeholders' consensus; (2) Developing modular IT solutions and conducting situational analysis to achieve IT goals; and (3) Government policies, accreditation standards and procurement guidelines play a crucial role in navigating the complex CDSS market.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first review to address the adoption and procurement of CDSS. Previous literature only addressed challenges and facilitators within the implementation and post-implementation stages. This study focuses on the firm-level adoption phase of CDSS technology with a theory refining lens.

The experience of shared decision-making for people with asthma: A systematic review and metasynthesis of qualitative studies.

To identify, describe and synthesise the views and experiences of adults living with asthma regarding shared decision-making (SDM) in the existing qualitative literature METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of 10 databases (list databases) from inception until September 2023. Screening was performed according to inclusion criteria. Tools from the Joanna Briggs lnstitute were utilised for the purposes of data extraction and synthesis in this study. The data extraction process in this study employed the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Model of Behaviour (COM-B model) as a framework, and a pragmatic meta-aggregative approach was employed to synthesise the collected results. Nineteen studies were included in the metasynthesis. Three synthesised themes were identified: the capability of people living with asthma, the opportunities of people living with asthma in SDM, and the motivation of the people living with asthma in SDM. We have identified specific factors influencing people living with asthma engaging in SDM. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for the implementation of SDM in people living with asthma and provide insights for the development of their SDM training programs. The ConQual score for the synthesised findings was rated as low. To enhance confidence, future studies should address dependability and credibility factors. This review contemplates the implementation of SDM from the perspective of people living with asthma, with the aim of providing patient-centred services for them. The results of this review can benefit the implementation of SDM and facilitate information sharing. It offers guidance for SDM skills training among adults living with asthma, fosters a better doctor-patient relationship and facilitates consensus in treatment decisions, thereby enabling personalised and tailored medical care. Three nursing graduate students participated in the data extraction and integration process, with two students having extensive clinical experience that provided valuable insights for the integration.

Family members’ experiences of bereavement in the emergency department: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

The emergency department (ED) is one of the places where patient deaths frequently occur. Understanding family members’ experiences of bereavement would help provide individualized bereavement care. We conducted a meta-synthesis to synthesize family members’ experiences of bereavement in the ED and assess the impact of bereavement on their lives. We searched seven international electronic databases. Five studies were selected and critically appraised. Thematic analysis was employed. Five themes (with 13 subthemes) were derived: suffering sudden changes and are severely impacted, multiple feelings and needs of waiting, final farewell, personal and family difficulties after leaving the ED, and journey through grief. Family members endured agonizing waits to see and learn more about their family members’ condition. Family members reported the need for effective follow-up resources. Findings revealed that it would be helpful if the EDs could provide sensitive and respectful care to family members.

Older Adults’ Experiences of Using Strategies to Maintain and Foster Social Participation: A Systematic Review with Metasynthesis of Qualitative Studies

Social participation is positively associated with older adults’ health. Health-care services, therefore, need to empower older adults to adapt to the social changes that accompany aging. This systematic review, with a metasynthesis of qualitative studies, aimed to describe and develop an understanding of home-dwelling older adults’ (65 yrs+) experiences of using strategies to maintain and foster their social participation. The main search was performed in March 2022 using the PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and AMED databases and included peer-reviewed articles published between 2012 and 2022. A total of 35 full-text articles from 15 different countries were included and assessed for quality by the assessment tool for qualitative studies provided by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). The metasynthesis resulted in the main theme: strategically creating routines that foster social participation and two main categories: inward-looking strategies for social participation and outward-looking strategies for social participation. Each main category contained three subcategories. The findings suggest that for perceiving social participation, it is important for older adults to create routines with patterns of activities and to be able to engage in these activities. The findings further reflect that older adults use earlier experiences of social participation to facilitate the making of routines. This indicates that health-care interventions supporting older adults’ social participation must be applied early and with a health-promotive focus. Conclusively, researchers need to develop interventions that support older adults in healthy activity patterns by raising awareness of how to use inward-looking and outward-looking strategies to create routines for social participation. The findings further suggest that older adults’ possibilities for social participation could be supported by designing accessible venues that facilitate spontaneous meetings and encourage older adults’ own choices and initiatives for social participation.

Experiences of financial toxicity among caregivers of cancer patients: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of financial toxicity among caregivers of cancer patients and to provide recommendations for subsequent intervention strategies. Computer searches of PubMed, EmBase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL (EBSCO), CNKI, Wanfang database, and SinoMed for qualitative studies experience of financial toxicity among caregivers cancer patients. The search time frame was from the establishment of the database to May 2023. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Qualitative Research Checklist from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Reviewer's Manual. The meta-synthesis was integrated following the meta-aggregation method proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and reported following the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines. A total of nine studies were included, distilling 25 qualitative findings into nine new categories and synthesizing three synthesized findings: caregivers have strong negative experiences that affect their family relationships, daily work and life; caregivers use different strategies to cope with financial toxicity; needs and expectations of caregivers coping with financial toxicity. Financial toxicity among caregivers of cancer patients affects their daily lives. Receiving timely recognition of this financial burden and providing assistance to enhance their coping skills are crucial in mitigating its impact. Healthcare professionals should focus on the financial toxicity experienced by caregivers of people with cancer, address their supportive needs, and develop a comprehensive support system to improve caregivers' coping abilities and quality of life.

Nursing students' experiences of teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the sudden transition to virtual learning led to several challenges for nursing students. This study aimed to synthesis nursing students' experiences of teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. A meta-synthesis of qualitative articles were conducted. Three online databases were searched from December 2019 to December 2022. Qualitative studies and qualitative sections of mixed method studies were included. Twenty-four qualitative studies and seven mixed-method studies were included in the review. The findings consisted of one main theme "educational transformation", and three categories "challenging face-to-face clinical training", "transition from face-to-face to virtual education", and "support continua". The evidence indicated that during this health-related crisis, most of the training was provided as distance learning in various forms. According to the findings, distance education alone cannot replace face-to-face education and is suggested to be considered as a supplementary learning method. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of nursing students' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering practical implications for educators and institutions globally. The lessons learned can inform strategic decisions, policies, and practices to enhance the resilience and adaptability of nursing education in the face of unforeseen challenges.

Meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on patient perceptions and requirements during the perioperative period of robotic surgery.

This research undertakes a comprehensive evaluation and amalgamation of patient experiences and requirements during the perioperative period of robot-assisted surgery (RS), with the goal of enriching clinical practice with patient-centered insights. A meta-synthesis was performed and reported according to the preferred reporting Items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses and the enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research statement. A rigorous literature search was conducted across multiple Chinese and English databases, namely PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCO), Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBLD), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and VIP Information. This study incorporated ten qualitative studies, the outcomes were classified into three overarching themes: personalized patient requirements related to RS; the psychological and physiological experiences of patients; and the divergent perceptions of male and female patients regarding RS. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on patient comprehension of RS, augmenting focus on patient psychological experiences, recognizing unique patient needs at various stages of RS, and providing patients with specialized knowledge and technical support.

Experiences of cancer survivors returning to work decision-making: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

Return to work for cancer survivors (CSs) may be challenging, and there is a research gap in integrating the relevant experiences of the return-to-work decision-making process for CSs. Our aim was to synthesize existing qualitative research that integrates the dynamic experiences of CSs in the return-to-work decision-making process and highlights the factors influencing the return-to-work decisions of CSs. We retrieved qualitative studies on a relevant theme published in the PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases since construction to December 2023. Literature screening, quality evaluation, and data analysis followed the PRISMA, Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool (2016), and thematic analysis methods to ensure study reliability. The study was registered on PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42023429623). Ten articles were included, and six key outcomes were identified based on Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) integration: points of concern for individuals, sense of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, work perception and belonging, medical advice and guidance, and effects of the external reactions. The decision-making process for CSs to return to work is affected by various personal and external factors. Effectively addressing personal appearance, financial, and emotional issues can enhance self-efficacy of CSs. Improving external perceptions of cancer patients and enhancing social support in the workplace and medical settings can help CSs make informed decisions regarding their return to work. The decision of CSs to return to work is a result of integrating personal, job, and medical care considerations. These findings contribute to the development of future interventions for CSs' return-to-work decisions that target an array of potential factors.