Health Sciences Information Research Articles

“How Trustworthy Is This Research?” Designing a Tool to Help Readers Understand Evidence and Uncertainty in Science Journalism

Widespread concerns about the spread of misinformation have gained urgency during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and pose challenges for science journalism, in particular in the health area. This article reports on a Research through Design study exploring how to design a tool for helping readers of science journalism understand the strength and uncertainty of scientific evidence in news stories about health science, using both textual and visual information. A central aim has been to teach readers about criteria for assessing scientific evidence, in particular in order to help readers differentiate between science and pseudoscience. Working in a research-in-the-wild collaboration with a website for popular science, the study presents the design and evaluation of the Scientific Evidence Indicator, which uses metadata about scientific publications to present an assessment of evidence strength to the readers. Evaluations of the design demonstrate some success in helping readers recognize whether studies have undergone scientific peer review or not, but also point to challenges in facilitating a more in-depth understanding. Insights from the study point to a potential for developing similar tools aimed at journalists rather than directly at audiences.

The impact of perceived value and affection on Chinese residents' continuous use intention of mobile health science information: An empirical study.

Disseminating health science information via the internet has become an essential means for improving Chinese residents' health literacy, which has received constant attention from the Chinese government. Therefore, it is important to explore Chinese residents' perceived value and emotional response to mobile health science information for determining Chinese residents' satisfaction and use intention. This study applied the cognition-affect-conation model to evaluate the perceived value, arousal, pleasure, trust, satisfaction, and continuous use intention. A mobile device was used to obtain health science information from 236 Chinese residents via an online survey and the data were analyzed using partial least squares (PLS)-structural equation modeling. The results showed that Chinese residents' perceived value of health science information obtained using the mobile device directly affect the degree of arousal (β = 0.412, P < 0.001), pleasure (β = 0.215, P < 0.01), and trust (β = 0.339, P < 0.001). The degree of arousal (β = 0.121, P < 0.01), pleasure (β = 0.188, P < 0.01), and trust (β = 0.619, P < 0.001) directly affected Chinese residents' satisfaction, which further affected their continuous use intention (β = 0.513, P < 0.001). Similarly, trust directly affected Chinese residents' continuous use intention (β = 0.323, P < 0.001). The degree of arousal directly affected their degree of pleasure (β = 0.304, P < 0.001), and pleasure also imposed a direct effect on trust (β = 0.293, P < 0.001). The result of this study provided an academic and practical reference to improve mobile health science popularization information. Affective changes have imposed an important effect on Chinese residents' continuous use intention. High-quality, diversified and frequent use of health science information can significantly increase residents' continuous use intention, improving their health literacy as a consequence.

Evolution and Trends of Facial Plastic Surgery and Facial Aesthetic Procedures in India: From Awakening to Revival.

Abstract Facial aesthetic surgery is an emerging branch worldwide. India, a torchbearer country in facial plastic surgery, has seen tremendous growth in medical technology, resources, and clientele over the past century. This study aims to study past practices and current trends in facial plastic surgery and aesthetic procedures in India by individually addressing commonly performed nonsurgical procedures (Botox, Kybella [Allergan, Irvine, CA], fillers, threads, micro-focused ultrasound, and nonsurgical hair restoration), and surgical procedures (rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, hair transplant, and facelift). It also aims to further elaborate on the scope of facial aesthetics and make recommendations on prospects in the field. A structured scoping review and a subsequent evidence-based synthesis were done following an extensive literature search on various databases such as PubMed (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD), LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, São Paulo, Brazil), MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD), EMBASE (Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), and Cochrane (Wiley, Hoboken, NJ). The initial search yielded 703 articles, out of which 20 were found to be relevant to the present study and discussed. It was found that there is an upward trend in the growth of facial plastic surgery in India, and a gradual shift in patient attitude toward nonsurgical aesthetic procedures was seen. This article affirms the growth of facial aesthetic surgery in India by highlighting the recent development and trends in the practices of surgeons. It also addresses the shortcomings in the current administration and makes recommendations to fill the existing loopholes in plastic surgery. Level of Evidence: 5

Design of Annotated Bibliography of Traditional Medicine in West Java, Indonesia

Objective. The existence of traditional medicine, especially in the province of West Java, Indonesia, has been recognized and has been used by the general public, one of which concerns the traditional medicine. West Java is one of the largest provinces in Indonesia which has many medicinal plants. The purpose of this study is to create an information package that stores various sources of information related to traditional medicine in West Java by designing an annotated bibliography of traditional medicine in West Java. Methods. The research method used is action research method. The stages of action research used are planning, action, evaluation, reflection, and the process of publishing book products. Results. The results obtained are the stages of action in accordance with the stages of the plan for the annotated bibliographic manuscript to be printed as a book that can be tested by experts with a questionnaire containing suggestions. After being tested and corrected, the contents of the book were then tested publicly with a background in health sciences, information science, and libraries, as well as people who use traditional medicine in West Java by means of a questionnaire containing an assessment. Conclusions. The results of the public test are above 89%, which means the book product is feasible and can be published as an annotated bibliographic book related to traditional medicine.

College students and patient work: Health information management by emerging young adults

College students with a life experience of chronic illness and impairments grow into young adulthood as health information monitors as well as communicators with healthcare professionals. This interview study focused on the health information management practices of college and graduate students living with disabilities and chronic illness. SEIPS (Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety), a work system model drawn from human factors engineering, was used as a conceptual framework for qualitative analysis. This revealed the importance of other people, particularly parents, in patients' information worlds. Digital technologies were ubiquitous; analog tools from business cards to binders were also key components of students' information systems. Using the SEIPS structure to interrogate the data allowed an understanding of how health experiences are integrated into everyday life. The findings of this research may provide health information technology designers and information science researchers insight into how to meet the needs of this population.

PubMed literacy: Developing skills for effective literature search

Health science professionals need exhaustive and up-to-date information for patient care and research. They depend much on electronic resources for meeting their information needs. PubMed is a premier open access health science database of US National Library of Medicine (NLM). PubMed indexes more than 5600 health science related journals. PubMed literacy is the information literacy on PubMed database. It helps the health science professionals and researchers in understanding various features of the PubMed database and accessing the required health science information more efficiently and effectively. PubMed literacy means to how to use PubMed for conducting literature search and includes having training in literature search skills and techniques which are essential for searching in PubMed. The present article helps to get familiarity with search features and functionality of PubMed database and to know the importance of PubMed literacy in conducting health science literature search.

House modifications for preventing malaria.

BackgroundMalaria remains an important public health problem. Research in 1900 suggested house modifications may reduce malaria transmission. A previous version of this review concluded that house screening may be effective in reducing malaria. This update includes data from five new studies.ObjectivesTo assess the effects of house modifications that aim to reduce exposure to mosquitoes on malaria disease and transmission.Search methodsWe searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register; Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), published in the Cochrane Library; MEDLINE (PubMed); Embase (OVID); Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CAB) s (Web of Science); and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information database (LILACS) up to 25 May 2022. We also searched the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the ISRCTN registry to identify ongoing trials up to 25 May 2022.Selection criteriaRandomized controlled trials, including cluster‐randomized controlled trials (cRCTs), cross‐over studies, and stepped‐wedge designs were eligible, as were quasi‐experimental trials, including controlled before‐and‐after studies, controlled interrupted time series, and non‐randomized cross‐over studies.We sought studies investigating primary construction and house modifications to existing homes reporting epidemiological outcomes (malaria case incidence, malaria infection incidence or parasite prevalence). We extracted any entomological outcomes that were also reported in these studies.Data collection and analysisTwo review authors independently selected eligible studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. We used risk ratios (RR) to compare the effect of the intervention with the control for dichotomous data. For continuous data, we presented the mean difference; and for count and rate data, we used rate ratios. We presented all results with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach.Main resultsOne RCT and six cRCTs met our inclusion criteria, with an additional six ongoing RCTs. We did not identify any eligible non‐randomized studies. All included trials were conducted in sub‐Saharan Africa since 2009; two randomized by household and four at the block or village level. All trials assessed screening of windows, doors, eaves, ceilings, or any combination of these; this was either alone, or in combination with roof modification or eave tube installation (an insecticidal "lure and kill" device that reduces mosquito entry whilst maintaining some airflow). In one trial, the screening material was treated with 2% permethrin insecticide. In five trials, the researchers implemented the interventions. A community‐based approach was adopted in the other trial.Overall, the implementation of house modifications probably reduced malaria parasite prevalence (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.82; 5 trials, 5183 participants; moderate‐certainty evidence), although an inconsistent effect was observed in a subpopulation of children in one study. House modifications reduced moderate to severe anaemia prevalence (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.89; 3 trials, 3643 participants; high‐certainty evidence). There was no consistent effect on clinical malaria incidence, with rate ratios ranging from 0.38 to 1.62 (3 trials, 3365 participants, 4126.6 person‐years). House modifications may reduce indoor mosquito density (rate ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.30; 4 trials, 9894 household‐nights; low‐certainty evidence), although two studies showed little effect on this parameter.Authors' conclusionsHouse modifications – largely screening, sometimes combined with insecticide and lure and kill devices – were associated with a reduction in malaria parasite prevalence and a reduction in people with anaemia. Findings on malaria incidence were mixed. Modifications were also associated with lower indoor adult mosquito density, but this effect was not present in some studies.

Surgery for the treatment of obesity in children and adolescents.

Child and adolescent overweight and obesity have increased globally and are associated with significant short- and long-term health consequences. To assess the effects of surgery for treating obesity in childhood and adolescence. For this update, we searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information database (LILACS), World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP)and ClinicalTrials.gov on 20 August 2021 (date of the last search for all databases). We did not apply language restrictions. We checked references of identified studies and systematic reviews. We selected randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of surgical interventions for treating obesity in children and adolescents (age < 18 years) with a minimum of six months of follow-up. We excluded interventions that specifically dealt with the treatment of eating disorders or type 2 diabetes, or which included participants with a secondary or syndromic cause of obesity, or who were pregnant. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Where necessary, we contacted authors for additional information. With this update, we did not find any new RCTs. Therefore, this updated review still includes a single RCT (a total of 50 participants, 25 in both the intervention and comparator groups). The intervention focused on laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery, which was compared to a control group receiving a multi-component lifestyle programme. The participating population consisted of Australian adolescents (a higher proportion of girls than boys) aged 14 to 18 years, with a mean age of 16.5 and 16.6 years in the gastric banding and lifestyle groups, respectively. The trial was conducted in a private hospital, receiving funding from the gastric banding manufacturer. For most of the outcomes, we identified a high risk of bias, mainly due to bias due to missing outcome data. Laparoscopic gastric banding surgery may reduce BMI by a mean difference (MD) of -11.40 kg/m2 (95% CI -13.22 to -9.58) and weight by -31.60 kg (95% CI -36.66 to -26.54) compared to a multi-component lifestyle programme at two years follow-up. The evidence is very uncertain due to serious imprecision and a high risk of bias. Adverse events were reported in 12/25 (48%) participants in the intervention group compared to 11/25 (44%) in the control group. A total of 28% of the adolescents undergoing gastric banding required revisional surgery. The evidence is very uncertain due to serious imprecision and a high risk of bias. At two years of follow-up, laparoscopic gastric banding surgery may increase health-related quality of life in the physical functioning scores by an MD of 16.30 (95% CI 4.90 to 27.70) and change in health scores by an MD of 0.82 (95% CI 0.18 to 1.46) compared to the lifestyle group. The evidence is very uncertain due to serious imprecision and a high risk of bias. No data were reported for all-cause mortality, behaviour change, participants' views of the intervention and socioeconomic effects. Finally, we have identified three ongoing RCTs that are evaluating the efficacy and safety of metabolic and bariatric surgery in children and adolescents. Laparoscopic gastric banding led to greater body weight loss compared to a multi-component lifestyle program in one small study with 50 participants. These results have very limited application, primarily due to more recent recommendations derived from observation studies to avoid the use of banding in youth due to long-term reoperation rates. This systematic review update still highlights the lack of RCTs in this field. The authors are concerned that there may be ethical barriers to RTCs in this field, despite the lack of other effective therapies for severe obesity in children and adolescents and the significant morbidity and premature mortality caused by childhood obesity. Nevertheless, future studies, whether pre-registered and planned non-randomised or pragmatic randomised trials, should assess the impact of the surgical procedure and post-operative care to minimise adverse events, including the need for post-operative adjustments and revisional surgery. Long-term follow-up is also critical to comprehensively assess the impact of surgery as participants enter adulthood.

CHLA/ABSC 2022 Conference Abstracts

This workshop will provide health science librarians and information professionals at any level/context with an overview of the best practices in finding and identifying the best scientific evidence during novel public health emergencies. Attendees will be presented with an overview of a best practices statement developed by the Librarian Reserve Corps. Attendees will then apply the recommendations from the best practices statement in designing a plan to respond to real-life case study/information request during a public health emergency. A discussion period will follow on how to apply the best practices in other contexts, environments, and cultures. Attendees will also be invited to share their own experiences and best practices during the discussion session. Through hands-on learning and discussion, librarians and information professionals at any level/context will develop strategies to find and critically appraise the best evidence in any novel public health emergency situation.

Evidence map of diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, prevention, and control in visceral leishmaniasis.

ABSTRACTObjective.To develop an evidence map on visceral leishmaniasis prevention, control, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.Methods.Systematic reviews on visceral leishmaniasis were searched using MEDLINE/PubMed and Virtual Health Library. After selection, each included systematic review was assessed, characterized, and categorized by intervention type and by outcomes, according to the methodology offered by the PAHO/WHO Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME). The methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR2 tool to determine the confidence level of the evidence obtained.Results.Among the prevention and control interventions, insecticide spraying, bednets, dog collars, and dog culling were the most assessed, emphasizing that insecticidal dog collars can reduce visceral leishmaniasis incidence in dogs. Regarding diagnosis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), rK39 immunochromatographic test (rK39 ICT), and direct agglutination test (DAT) presented high sensitivity and specificity. As for treatment, pentavalent antimonials and amphotericin B were the most analyzed drugs and showed therapeutic success; however, serious adverse events can occur due to their use. The prognostic factors identified were anemia, edema, bleeding, jaundice, age, and HIV coinfection.Conclusions.The evidence map developed shows rK39 ICT and DAT as promising diagnostic alternatives and reinforces the efficacy of liposomal amphotericin B and pentavalent antimonials. Insecticide-impregnated dog collars appear as a promising measure for the control of visceral leishmaniasis, but there is also a need for future studies and reviews with higher methodological quality, especially on prevention and control interventions.

Estimating monthly global ground-level NO2 concentrations using geographically weighted panel regression

Predicting long-term ground-level nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is important globally to support environmental and public health research and to provide information to governments and society for air pollution control policies. The ozone monitoring instrument (OMI), onboard Aura Satellite, detects monthly global tropospheric column amounts (TrCA) of NO2 molecules. However, the relationship between the ground-level NO2 concentration and TrCA of NO2 molecules remains elusive because NO2 molecules in the air are not evenly distributed vertically. We use geographically weighted panel regression (GWPR) to examine the relationship between satellite-derived data, measured ground-level NO2 concentrations, and several controlling meteorological variables from January 2015 to October 2021. The GWPR can analyze unbalanced panel data and capture the spatial variability of the relationship. Based on the GWPR estimation, 82 monthly global ground-level NO2 concentrations are predicted from January 2015 to October 2021. The GWPR is reliable, as indicated by the 10-fold cross-validation. The accuracy of the raster prediction of global ground-level NO2 from January 2015 to October 2021 is 69.61%. The coefficient of correlation, root mean square error and mean absolute error between globally predicted and measured ground-level NO2 are 0.838, 7.84 μg/m3 and 4.07 μg/m3, respectively, while the mean of globally measured ground-level NO2 is 19.47 μg/m3. Overall, this research provides critical basic data to environmental and public health science and valuable information for governments and societies to make more reasonable policies.

Rituximab for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is the most frequent extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease, affecting up to 50% of patients. It has a great impact on quality of life. Rituximab (RTX)is a human/murine chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets the CD20 receptor on B-lymphocytes. Preliminary work has shown that blocking this CD20 receptor with RTX may affect the clinical course of TAO by reducing inflammation and the degree of proptosis. OBJECTIVES: This review update, originally published in 2013, assesses the efficacy and safety of using RTX for the treatment of TAO. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2022, Issue 2), which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information database (LILACS), the ISRCTN registry, clinicaltrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP). There were no language restrictions in the electronic search for trials. We last searched the electronic databases on 22 February 2022. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of RTX administered by intravenous infusion using any dosage regimen for the treatment of active TAO in adults, compared to placebo or glucocorticoids treatment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Two review authors independently scanned titles and abstracts, and screened full-text reports of potentially relevant studies. The outcomes of interest in this review were: clinical activity score (CAS), NOSPECS severity scale, proptosis (mm), palpebral aperture (mm), extraocular motility (degrees or diplopia rating scale), quality of life and adverse effects. We identified two studies that met the inclusion criteria in this updated review. Across both studies, the mean age of participants was 55 years and 77% were women. RTX compared to intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) One study, conducted in Italy, compared RTX (n = 15 after one participant withdrew) with IVMP (n = 16) for active TAO (CAS ≥ 3 out of 7 or 4 out of 10). We judged this study to be at low risk of bias in most domains, but it was stopped early because of disease reactivation in the comparator group (5/16 participants). This study provided low-certainty evidence that RTX may result in CAS improvement at 24 weeks compared to IVMP (15/15 versus 12/16 improved by ≥ 2 points; risk ratio (RR) 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98 to 1.78). Only very low-certainty evidence was available for the other outcomes: NOSPECS improvement by 2 or more classes (3/15 versus 3/16; RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.25 to 4.49); proptosis improvement by 2 mm or more (0/15 versus 1/16; RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.02 to 8.08); palpebral aperture improvement by 3 mm or more (2/15 versus 0/16; RR 5.31, 95% CI 0.28 to 102.38); motility improvement by 1 class or more (3/15 versus 3/16; RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.25 to 4.49); and improvement on the Graves' ophthalmopathy QoL scale by at least 6 points for "functioning" (5/14 versus 8/13; RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.32), and "appearance" (9/14 versus 6/13; RR 1.39, 95% CI 0.69 to 2.82). Adverse events were more common in the RTX group (RR 1.39, 95% CI 0.90 to 2.13; low-certainty evidence). Minor adverse effects (mild infusion reactions) were observed in most people receiving RTX at first infusion. Two participants experienced a major infusion reaction, likely cytokine release syndrome. RTX compared to placebo One study, conducted in the USA, enrolled 25 participants with active TAO (CAS ≥ 4 out of 7), comparing RTX (13 participants) to placebo. We judged this study to be at low risk of bias in most domains, but it was stopped early due to recruitment issues. It provided very low-certainty evidence on the following outcomes at 24 weeks: CAS improvement by 2 or more points (4/13 RTX versus 3/12 placebo; RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.34 to 4.40); NOSPECS improvement by 2 or more classes (2/13 versus 2/12; RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.15 to 5.56); proptosis improvement by 2 mm or more (2/13 versus 4/12; RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.10 to 2.08); palpebral aperture median change (0 mm in RTX group, in both eyes separately, versus -0.5 mm and 0.5 mm in placebo group right and left eye, respectively); motility median diplopia score (3 versus 2.5); SF-12 physical component median score (45.9 versus 40.3) and mental component median score (52.8 versus 46.1). More participants in the RTX group experienced adverse effects (8/13 versus 3/12; RR 2.46, 95% CI 0.84 to 7.18). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of RTX in people with TAO. Future studies investigating RTX in people with active TAO may need to be multi-centre in order to recruit enough participants to make an adequate judgement on the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy.

ICT Enabled Disease Diagnosis, Treatment and Management-A Holistic Cost-Effective Approach Through Data Management and Analysis in UAE and India.

This concept paper addresses specific challenges identified in the UN 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as well as the National Health Policy of India (NHP-India) and the Ministry of Health Policy of UAE (MHP-UAE). This policy calls for a digital health technology ecosystem. SDG Goal 1 and its related objectives are conceptualized which serves as the foundation for Virtual Consultations, Tele-pharmacy, Virtual Storage, and Virtual Community (VCom). SDG Goals 2 and 3 are conceptualized as Data Management & Analytical (DMA) Architecture. Individual researchers and health care professionals in India and the UAE can use DMA to uncover and harness PHC and POC data into practical insights. In addition, the DMA would provide a set of core tools for cross-network initiatives, allowing researchers and other users to compare their data with DMA data. In rural, urban, and remote populations of the UAE and India, the concept augments the PHC system with ICT-based interventions. The ICT-based interventions may improve patient health outcomes. The open and flexible design allows users to access various digital materials. Extendable data/metadata format, scalable architecture for petabyte-scale federated discovery. The modular DMA is designed using existing technology and resources. Public health functions include population health assessment, policy development, and monitoring policy implementation. PHC and POC periodically conduct syndromic surveillance to identify population risk patterns. In addition, the PHC and POC deploy medical and non-medical preventive measures to prevent disease outbreaks. To assess the impact of social and economic factors on health, epidemiologists must first understand diseases. Improved health due to compliance with holistic disease treatment plans and access to scientific health information.

Syntheses Synthesized: A Look Back at Grant and Booth's Review Typology

A Review of: Grant, M. J., &amp; Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: An analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 26(2), 91–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x Abstract Objective – The article, published in 2009, aims to provide a descriptive analysis of common review types to dispel confusion and misapplication of terminology. Design – An examination of terminology and methods applied in published literature reviews. Methods – Grant and Booth preliminarily performed a scoping search and drew on their own experiences in health and health information theory and practice. Using literature reviews from the Health Information and Libraries Journal review feature and reviews identified in a previously published evaluation of methods in systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Ankem, 2008), Grant and Booth examined characteristics of literature reviews. They subsequently identified variations in literature review methodologies and correlating vocabulary. After arriving at the conclusion that probing the review titles and descriptions—or alternatively, examining review workflow and timeframe processes—were not accurate for classifying review types, the authors chose to apply an analytical framework called Search, AppraisaL, Synthesis, and Analysis (SALSA). By examining the scope of the search, the method of appraisal, and the nature and characteristics of the synthesis and analysis, SALSA helped the authors describe and characterize the "review processes as embodied in the description of the methodology" (Grant &amp; Booth, 2009, p. 104). By employing an objective technique to categorize literature review types, the authors generated a descriptive typology. Main Results – The authors provided a descriptive typology for 14 different literature reviews: critical review, literature review, mapping review/systematic map, meta-analysis, mixed studies review/mixed methods review, overview review, qualitative systematic review/qualitative evidence synthesis, rapid review, scoping review, state-of-the-art review, systematic review, systematic search and review, systematized review, and umbrella review. With the application of the SALSA framework, the literature review types were defined and narratively described and summarized, along with perceived strengths, weaknesses, and a previously published example provided for comparison. Two tables supplied a quick reference for comparing literature review types and examining selected reviews. A breakdown of review types was followed by a discussion of using and developing reviews in the library and health information science domain. Conclusion – Inconsistency in nomenclature and methods across literature reviews perpetuates significant confusion among those involved in authoring or deciphering literature reviews. Grant and Booth noted the lack of an internationally agreed-upon set of review types, the formulation of which would set a precedent for a better understanding of what is expected and required of such publications. In supplying a historical context of the literature review (detailing both its importance as a synthesis of primary research and its value to users), Grant and Booth provided a useful narrative and typology to "inform how LIS workers might approach the appraisal or development of a health information review" (p. 106).

The International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics: 2021 Update.

To summarize the activities of the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics (IAHSI) in 2021 and welcome its 2021 Class of Fellows. Report on governance, strategic directions, newly elected fellows, plenary meetings, and other activities of the Academy. As in 2020, all of the Academy's activities were carried out virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, new Board members were elected. Strategic activities in data standards and interoperability and in mentorship moved forward. A new class of 26 Fellows was elected, bringing the total membership of the Academy to 204 Fellows from all regions of the world. In addition, a virtual plenary meeting was held. The Academy has continued to pursue its role as the honorific society globally for biomedical and health informatics. Expansion of strategic activities and membership will continue moving forward.

Immediate versus delayed postabortal insertion of contraceptive implant.

Contraceptive implants are one of the most effective contraceptive methods, providing a long duration of pregnancy protection and a high safety profile. Hence this method is suitable for optimizing the interpregnancy interval, especially for women undergoing abortion. Women who have had abortions are at high risk of rapid repeat pregnancies. Provision of effective contraception at the time of an abortion visit can be a key strategy to increase access and uptake of contraception. A review of the evidence was needed to evaluate progestin-releasing implants for immediate use at the time of abortion, including whether immediate placement impacts the effectiveness of medical abortion, which relies on antiprogestogens. To compare contraceptive implant initiation rates, contraceptive effectiveness, and adverse outcomes associated with immediate versus delayed insertion of contraceptive implants following abortion. We searched for all relevant studies regardless of language or publication status up to September 2019, with an update search in March 2021. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Ovid EBM Reviews), MEDLINE ALL (Ovid), Embase.com, CINAHL (EBSCOhost) (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Global Health (Ovid), LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information database), Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the WHO ICTRP. We examined the reference lists of pertinent articles to identify other studies. We sought randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing immediate versus delayed insertion of contraceptive implant for contraception following abortion. We followed the standard procedures recommended by Cochrane. To identify potentially relevant studies, two review authors (JS, LS) independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts of the search results, assessed trials for risk of bias, and extracted data. We computed the risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for binary outcomes, and the mean difference (MD) with 95% CIs for continuous variables. We found three RCTs including a total of 1162 women. Our GRADE assessment of the overall certainty of the evidence ranged from moderate to very low, downgraded for risk of bias, inconsistency, and imprecision. Utilization rate at six months may be slightly higher for immediate compared with delayed insertion (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.15; 3 RCTs; 1103 women; I2 = 62%; low certainty evidence). Unintended pregnancy within six months after abortion was probably lower with immediate insertion compared with delayed insertion (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.77; 3 RCTs; 1029 women; I2 = 0%; moderate certainty evidence). Immediate insertion of contraceptive implants probably improves the initiation rate compared to delayed insertion following medical abortion (RR 1.26 for medical abortion, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.32; 2 RCTs; 1014 women; I2 = 89%; moderate certainty evidence) and may also improve initiation following surgical abortion (RR 2.32 for surgical abortion, 95% CI 1.79 to 3.01; 1 RCT; 148 women; I2 = not applicable; low certainty evidence). We did not pool results for the implant initiation outcome over both abortion types because of very high statistical heterogeneity. For medical termination of pregnancy, we found there is probably little or no difference between immediate and delayed insertion in overall failure of medical abortion (RR 1.18, 95% CI 0.58 to 2.40; 2 RCTs; 1001 women; I2 = 68%;moderate certainty evidence). There may be no difference between immediate and delayed insertion on rates of abnormal bleeding at one month after abortion (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.14; 1 RCT; 462 women; I2 = not applicable; low certainty evidence). Provision of progestin-releasing implants concurrently with abortifacient agents likely has little or no negative impact on overall failure rate of medical abortion. Immediate insertion probably improves the initiation rate of contraceptive implant, as well as unintended pregnancy rate within six months after abortion, compared to delayed insertion. There may be no difference between immediate and delayed insertion approaches in bleeding adverse effects at one month after abortion.

Tocilizumab for giant cell arteritis.

Tocilizumab for giant cell arteritis.

Algorithm-based pain management for people with dementia in nursing homes.

Algorithm-based pain management for people with dementia in nursing homes.

Systemic Immunomodulatory Treatments for Atopic Dermatitis

Systemic treatments for atopic dermatitis are being evaluated primarily in placebo-controlled trials; network meta-analysis can provide relative efficacy and safety estimates for treatments that have not been compared head to head. To compare reported measures of efficacy and assessments of safety in clinical trials of systemic treatments for atopic dermatitis in a living systematic review and network meta-analysis. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information database, Global Resource of EczemA Trials database, and trial registries were searched through June 15, 2021. Randomized clinical trials examining 8 or more weeks of treatment with systemic immunomodulatory medications for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis were included after screening titles, abstracts, and papers in duplicate. Data were abstracted in duplicate. Bayesian network meta-analyses and assessed Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation certainty of evidence were performed. The updated analysis was completed from June to December 2021. Outcomes include change in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and Peak Pruritus Numeric Rating Scales (PP-NRS). Since October 2019, 21 new studies were added, for a total of 60 trials with 16 579 patients. Up to 16 weeks of treatment in adults, abrocitinib, 200 mg daily (mean difference [MD], 2.2; 95% credible interval [CrI], 0.2-4.0; high certainty) and upadacitinib, 30 mg daily (MD, 2.7; 95% CrI, 0.6-4.7; high certainty) were associated with reduced EASI slightly more than dupilumab, 600 mg then 300 mg every 2 weeks. Abrocitinib, 100 mg daily (MD, -2.1; 95% CrI, -4.1 to -0.3; high certainty), baricitinib, 4 mg daily (MD, -3.2; 95% CrI, -5.7 to -0.8; high certainty), baricitinib, 2 mg daily (MD, -5.2; 95% CrI, -7.5 to -2.9; high certainty) and tralokinumab, 600 mg then 300 mg every 2 weeks (MD, -3.5; 95% CrI, -5.8 to -1.3; high certainty) were associated with reduced EASI slightly less than dupilumab. There was little or no difference between upadacitinib, 15 mg daily, and dupilumab (MD, 0.2; 95% CrI, -1.9 to 2.2; high certainty). The pattern of results was similar for POEM, DLQI, and PP-NRS. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, abrocitinib, 200 mg; and upadacitinib, 30 mg daily, were associated with slightly better scores than dupilumab, and upadacitinib, 15 mg daily, was associated with similar scores to dupilumab. Abrocitinib, 100 mg daily, baricitinib, 4 mg and 2 mg daily, and tralokinumab, 300 mg, every 2 weeks were associated with slightly worse scores.

A Data-Driven Assessment of the U.S. Health Informatics Programs and Job Market.

Health Informatics (HI) is an interdisciplinary field, integrating health sciences, computer science, information science, and cognitive science to assist health information management, analysis, and utilization. As the HI field is broad, it is impossible that a student will be able to master all the diverse HI topics. Thus, it is important to train the HI students based on the offering of the various HI programs and needs of the current market. This project will study the U.S. HI programs, training materials, HI job market, the skillset required by the employers, competencies taught in HI programs, and comparisons between them. We collected the training information for the 238 U.S. universities that offered MS, PhD, or postbaccalaureate certificate programs in HI or related professions. Next, we explored the HI job market by randomly checking 200 jobs and their required skillsets and domain knowledge. Then, we compared these skillsets with those offered by the HI programs and identified the gaps and overlaps for program enhancements. Among the 238 U.S. universities, 94 universities offer HI programs: 92 universities with MS (Master of Science), 43 with doctoral, 42 with both MS and doctoral, and 54 with certificate programs. The most offered HI courses are related to practicum, data analytics, research, and ethics. For the HI job postings, the three most technical skillsets required in HI job posting are data analysis, database management, and knowledge of electronic health records. However, only 58% of HI programs offer courses in database management and analytics. Compared with American Medical Informatics Association's recommended 10 fundamental domains, the HI curriculum generally lacks training in socio-technical systems, social-behavioral aspects of health, and interprofessional collaborative practice. There are gaps between the industry expectations of HI and the training received in HI programs. Advance level technical courses are needed in HI programs to meet industry expectations.