Search Strategy Research Articles

Characteristics of interventions that address racism in the United States and opportunities to integrate equity principles: a scoping review

BackgroundAs a driver of racial and health inequities, racism is deeply ingrained in the interconnected systems that affect health and well-being. Currently, no common frame is employed across researchers, interventionists, and funders to design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive interventions to address racism. Consequently, there is a need to examine the characteristics of interventions implemented in the United States that address racism across social and structural determinants of health and socio-ecological levels. Additionally, we utilized a Health Equity Action Research (HEART) framework to assess how interventions integrate equity principles.MethodsThis scoping review examined the characteristics of multi-level interventions that addressed racism and appraised the interventions using a Health Equity Action Research frame. A comprehensive search strategy was conducted across nine electronic databases between 24 October 2022 through 15 November 2022. Records were included if they were available in English, discussed or evaluated a multi-level intervention or program conducted in the United States, and discussed or evaluated the intervention or program regarding the health and well-being of racialized and ethnically minoritized groups.ResultsA total of 13,391 records were identified, of which 91 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. Most records reported the racialized group impacted by an intervention, of which the majority were racialized as African American or Black (n = 42) and Hispanic or Latino/a/x (n = 18). Eighty-one (89%) of interventions reported health outcomes and concentrated on the individual level. Most funders reported across the records, and 86 (51%) were a federal agency or department. A further 43 (25%) were private foundations, 12 (7%) were nonprofit organizations, 10 (6%) were private universities, and 4 (2%) were public universities. Regarding alignment with the HEART framework, 14% of interventions reported a mixed-methods approach, 45% reported community engagement, and less than 1% reported researcher self-reflection.ConclusionsMost interventions prioritized people who are racialized as Black and report health outcomes. Since intervention designs, objectives, and methodological approaches vary, no standard frame defines racism and health equity. Applying the HEART framework offers a standard approach for interventionists and researchers to examine power, integrate community voice, and self-reflect to advance health equity.

Downplaying difference: how ethnoracial minorities strive for labour market access in an egalitarian context

ABSTRACT This article explores the type of destigmatisation strategies minorities use to access employment in Norway, a country characterised by ambiguous egalitarianism, a rapidly changing demographic, and a public “silence about race”. Analysing 52 interviews with minority Norwegians about their job search behaviour, we found that they hide or downplay minority-specific cues in their resumes to avoid immigrant stereotypes and to signal Norwegianness. Non-white informants also engage in detailed management of their phenotypical appearance through photographs but seldom frame their strategies as responses to racial stereotypes. These findings suggest that Norwegian minorities respond to a clearly defined hierarchy of national belonging related to immigrant status, which includes an unarticulated racial component. Drawing on comparative scholarship on destigmatisation, we argue that minorities’ job search strategies are shaped by broader sociocultural factors and highlight the importance of conducting studies of this kind in national contexts that lack a language for addressing racial differences.

Di-Higgs production via axion-like particles

Due to the pseudo-scalar nature of the axion-like particle (ALP), the CP-conserving production of two Higgs bosons via the ALP necessarily involves an additional Z or γ boson. We examine the existing constraints from di-Higgs searches at Run 2 of the LHC and find that, despite the presence of extra objects in the final state, these searches are sensitive to a combination of ALP couplings to gluons and three-bosons in the TeV scale range. Additionally, we propose a specialized search strategy incorporating an energetic leptonic Z boson. This refined ALP-induced production process would allow for the identification of the h h → 4 b-jet final state and could potentially probe the TeV scale using data from Run 2 of the LHC. This production process can also occur through a coupling between the top quark and the ALP. We translate the current constraints on di-Higgs production into new limits on the ALP-top coupling.

Self-directed learning and the student learning experience in undergraduate clinical science programs: a scoping review.

Health professional organisations are increasingly promoting the use of self-directed learning. Furthermore, the rapidly evolving field of healthcare has meant that there is greater emphasis within tertiary education for students to become self-directed learners and possess the skills to engage in life-long learning. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the drivers that improve the student learning experience, in undergraduate clinical science programs that utilise self-directed learning. The Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review Methodology guided this study. The electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, Scopus and ERIC were comprehensively searched in April 2022 and re-run August 2023, for peer-reviewed research articles published in English. The original search was developed in MEDLINE and then adapted to each database. Following the Joanna Briggs Scoping Review methodology, articles were screened first by title and abstract and then by full text. Included articles were assessment for methodological quality. The search strategy yielded 2209 articles for screening. 19 met the inclusion criteria. Five key factors were identified which improve the student learning experience in self-directed learning: (i) curricular elements; (ii) educator influence; (iii) impact of peers, (iv) environment; and (v) clinical placement experiences. There are many curricular, environmental, and external factors which can improve the student learning experience in programs that utilise self-directed learning. Greater understanding of these factors will allow educators within clinical science programs to implement self-directed learning strategies more effectively within curriculum.

Lake shape and the characteristics of migration behavior modify Atlantic salmon smolt migration success through lakes.

Migration is a high-risk behavior. For the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, migrating from its river nursery area to marine feeding grounds, the magnitude of risk varies with habitat type. Passage through lakes, in particular, is associated with low rates of migration success. Downstream migrating salmon smolts are rheotactic when migrating in rivers, but lakes typically provide poorer directional currents for migrating salmon. In this study we tested if, in the absence of clear navigational cues in lakes, Atlantic salmon smolts switch to a random search strategy to find the outflowing river. We constructed random search simulations to test if lake basin shape has an effect on migration success. We also compared simulated migration characteristics with migrations of salmon smolts through five real lakes for which there are telemetry data for migrating salmon. Correlated random walk simulations showed that a random search strategy could be successful for all lake shapes tested but was more successful in curved (round and elliptical) than rectangular basin shapes. Rectangular basins with the migration start and stoppoints at the ends of the lake had a higher success than those where these points were perpendicular to the axis of the lake. In general, a random walk model predicted the migration success rate of fish tracked through real lakes. However, for two lakes the simulated migration success exceeded that of actual success, suggesting that fish passing through these lakes were not adopting a random search strategy. We speculate that this is the result of either conflicting navigational cues which inhibit smolts from finding the lake outlet or that they temporarily suspend migration (e.g., to feed). Modelling predicted that for small lakes, directional swimming in short steps (ca. 100 m) followed by turns with very low variation from the direction of travel resulted in the highest migration success. For larger lakes, longer step lengths but also with low turn variation (simulated turning angle drawn from distributions of standard deviation 2° and 5° around a mean of 0°) resulted in the highest migration success. We conclude that navigation in downstream migrating salmon smolts switches from rheotaxis in rivers to a random search tactic in lakes except where residual flow cues in some lakes prevent this, at times resulting in suboptimal navigation outcomes.

Evidence on the accreditation of health professionals' education in the WHO Africa region: a scoping review protocol.

This scoping review aims to map and examine the extent and type of available evidence on health professionals' education accreditation within Africa. The demand for health professionals is unprecedentedly high globally. One response to this challenge has been expanding training through more liberal education policies, facilitating private sector participation in education service provision. Some evidence suggests that this is a double-edged sword, increasing quantity but compromising the quality of health professionals produced. Regulation can provide a framework to assure and continuously improve quality, with such regulation in place in 79% of World Health Organization African countries. However, it is unclear how much and what evidence has been generated on how accreditation happens, where it is concentrated, and the prevailing evidence gaps within this region; therefore, we propose to conduct a scoping review. This review will include articles and dissertations focusing on the accreditation of health professionals' education in Africa. All methodological approaches and designs will be included. Conference abstracts and protocols will be excluded. This review will be carried out according to the JBI scoping review methodology. We conducted an initial search of CINAHL and MEDLINE to identify relevant articles. This informed our selection of keywords, along with index terms, to create a comprehensive search strategy for CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (Ovid), Global Health (Ovid), ERIC (EBSCOhost), Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, and Scopus. Sources included will be limited to those published starting from 2000 onwards. Data will be presented using tables and charts, accompanied by a narrative summary. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/W5G7T.

Movement Awareness Therapies in Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Given the rising prevalence and complexity of eating disorders, a comprehensive multidisciplinary holistic approach is necessary. This work aimed to assess the effectiveness of body and movement awareness therapies in patients with eating disorders. Search strategy was undertaken using several scientific health databases. Articles were eligible if they were randomized controlled trials analyzing the effects of movement and body awareness therapies in eating disorders. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement for systematic reviews was followed and the risk of bias was assessed using the "Cochrane Collaboration Tool to assess the risk of bias." 11 articles met the inclusion criteria, including 437 patients. No high-quality randomized controlled trials were found. Forest plot analysis of the Eating Disorder Examination scale showed a difference favors to body awareness therapies but not significantly neither homogeneous. The interventions analyzed included yoga, body awareness therapy, dance, and psychomotor therapy. Body awareness therapies provide some additional benefits for eating disorder symptoms, such as emotion regulation, self-criticism, self-confidence, self-compassion, anxiety, body attitude, eating disorder symptoms, and quality of life.

Complication rate across the minimally invasive surgical treatments (MISTs): where do we stand? A systematic review of the literature.

Over the past decade, the range of surgical options to benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) has expanded significantly with the advent of minimally invasive surgical therapies (MISTs). Nevertheless, the available evidence in the field is heterogeneous. Efficacy and safety thresholds are yet to be determined. To evaluate perioperative and long-term complications after MISTs - including Aquablation, steam injection (Rezūm), Transperineal laser ablation of the prostate (TPLA), implantation of a prostatic urethral lift (PUL) and temporary implantable nitinol device (iTIND) - in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPO. A systematic literature search was conducted in January 2024 using Medline (via PubMed), Embase (via Ovid), Scopus, and Web of Science. The search strategy used PICO criteria (Patients, Interventions, Comparisons, Outcomes) [1], focusing specifically on patients with BPH-associated LUTS who underwent MIST or other comparative treatments, aiming to assess both perioperative and long-term safety outcomes. Article selection was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The risk of bias and the quality of the articles included were assessed. A dedicated data extraction form was used to collect the data of interest. The initial electronic search identified 3660 records, of which 24 ultimately met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Overall, Aquablation was associated with a higher major complications rate of 14% (IQR 6-22), particularly in the case of patients with prostates <70 ml. PUL showed a higher early postoperative acute urinary retention rate (10.9%, IQR 9.2-12.3%), while 1.4% of patients treated with iTIND experienced major perioperative complications. Urinary tract infections were mostly reported in series assessing TPLA and Rezūm. The adoption of MISTs for LUTS due to BPH is associated with a varied spectrum of perioperative and long-term complications. Our findings showed an acceptable safety profile with specific complications dependent on the type of MIST performed, highlighting the importance of individualized patient selection and procedure-specific considerations.

Exploring Trends in Transportation Management: A Review of Scientific Papers on Dimension AI Database from 2020-2024

This qualitative study explores contemporary trends and advancements in sustainable transportation management practices, focusing on articles published between 2020 and 2024 and sourced from sustainability journals. A comprehensive search strategy using the Dimension AI database with the keywords "Transportation" and "Management". Articles were first screened by their title, abstract, and keywords, from which 63 manuscripts were chosen for thematic analysis. The key findings were the importance of sustainable traffic management systems, including congestion measures, infrastructure resilience, and environmental impact assessment. Another strand that emerged was data-driven approaches for smart city traffic management, which included novel techniques for effective decision-making. The study has especially highlighted the requirements of strategies that would set up the innovation in modeling techniques and resilience frameworks for transportation management. This study offers significant insight into modern trends in sustainable transportation management, which should be of immense value to policymakers, urban planners, and transportation professionals in seeking ways to overcome the problems associated with modern urban mobility while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Targeting Sepsis: Disease Tolerance, Immune Resilience, and Compartmentalized Immunity

Introduction: Sepsis remains a major contributor to critical care mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite advances in understanding its complex immunopathology, the compartmentalized nature of immune responses across different organs has yet to be fully translated into targeted therapies. This review explores the burden of sepsis on organ-specific immune dysregulation, immune resilience, and epigenetic reprogramming, emphasizing translational challenges and opportunities. Methods: We implemented a systematic literature search strategy, incorporating data from studies published between 2010 and 2024, to evaluate the role of molecular profiling techniques, including transcriptomics and epigenetic markers, in assessing the feasibility of targeted therapies. Results: Sepsis-induced immune dysregulation manifests differently in various organs, with lung, heart, liver, and kidney responses driven by unique local immune environments. Organ-specific biomarkers, such as the Spns2/S1P axis in lung macrophages, mitochondrial dysfunction in the heart, proenkephalin for early acute kidney injury (AKI), and adrenomedullin for predicting multi-organ failure, offer promising avenues for timely intervention. Furthermore, immune resilience, particularly through regulatory T-cell modulation and cytokine targeting (e.g., IL-18), is crucial for long-term recovery. Epigenetic mechanisms, including histone modification and trained immunity, present opportunities for reprogramming immune responses but require more precision to avoid unintended inflammatory sequelae. Conclusions: A deeper understanding of compartmentalized immune responses and the dynamic immune landscape in sepsis is critical for developing precision therapies. Real-time immune monitoring and organ-targeted interventions could revolutionize sepsis management, although significant barriers remain in clinical translation. Further research is required to establish biomarkers and treatment timing that optimize therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic risks.

Positive psychology constructs associated with academic success in South African secondary schools: A scoping review

In the South African education system, there is consistent concern about academic success and how it can be supported. Using a positive psychology lens could add additional insight on aspects of positive psychological functioning that may be associated with academic success. This scoping review examined literature on positive psychology constructs identified in association with academic success in South African secondary schools. Databases and other relevant sources were searched for studies implemented between 2007 and 2022. The search strategy yielded 15 studies for analysis. The results indicate that out of 46 potential positive psychology constructs, only 25 have been investigated in South African literature. The most researched construct was social support, followed by achievement motivation, and hope.

A multi-strategy improved sparrow search algorithm for indoor AGV path planning

To address the problems of weak search ability, easily falling into local optimal solutions and poor path quality of sparrow search algorithm in AGV path planning, a multi-strategy improved sparrow search algorithm (MISSA) is proposed in this paper. MISSA improves the global search ability by improving the discoverer position update operator and introducing the sine cosine algorithm; adopts the adaptive number of vigilantes and adaptive adjustment step size to improve the convergence speed; introduces the Levy flight variation strategy to reduce the probability of falling into any local optimal solution; optimizes the boundary handling mechanism to prevent the loss of population diversity at a later stage; finally, uses the large-scale neighborhood search strategy and path smoothing mechanism for path optimization to further improve the path quality. The superiority-seeking ability of MISSA was verified by 12 standard test functions, and then 30 simulation experiments were conducted in grid maps with two specifications of 20×20 and 30×30. The experimental results showed that, by using MISSA, the path length was reduced by 44.1% and 63.1%, the number of turns was reduced by 68.4% and 78.4%, and the risk degree was reduced by 61.3% and 77.2%, which verifies the superiority of MISSA in path planning. Finally, MISSA was ported to the QBot2e mobile robot for physical verification to prove its feasibility in practical applications.

Modifying the Methodology of Letter Cancellation Test for Digital Representation

Standard tools of attention diagnosis have seen only a few attempts of modernization. A theoretical and methodological analysis revealed data contradictions both in assignment and criteria. Digital versions of cognitive diagnostic material could be more objective due to modern hardware and software methods that register psychophysiological indicators. This research was an attempt to digitalize a standard letter variant of letter cancellation test. It involved a theoretical and methodological analysis of attention studies and diagnostic methods. The authors developed new stimulus material for digital attention tests and studied them using oculography. The research involved 90 people (33 men and 57 women) aged 16–70 y.o. The oculography revealed a set of oculomotor reactions that made it possible to describe the peculiarities of attention process and its stages, as well as to establish such a phenomenon as inattention blindness. The experiment also revealed some stable patterns in search strategies and oculomotor reactions that occurred during the testing. While searching for a target stimulus in a limited time, respondents usually employ two basic strategies: 1) they read elementary units of information to integrate them into a single image; 2) they stick to symbolic content with subsequent selective processing to select the target stimulus from the information flow. In this research, however, the participants also used additional strategies: 3) they completely ignored the target word; 4) they reduced the volume of the target stimulus (incomplete response) with its complete detection by oculomotor reactions; 5) they combined elements mechanically; 6) they turned to confabulation.

Using Implementation Science to Implement Evidence-Based Practice: A Discursive Paper.

The purpose of this manuscript is to offer an overview of knowledge regarding Evidence-Based Practice and implementation science. It addresses the question: What are the EBP implementation models used in nursing settings? Discursive paper. The databases were searched with the following keywords: 'Nursing Faculty', 'Nurse educator', 'Academic', 'clinic', 'Evidence-based implementation', 'evidence-based practice', 'implementation', 'implementation science', 'undergraduate', 'nurse'. The search strategy aims to identify published studies. Eight databases were searched. There are specific implementation models for implementing EBP: the IOWA Model, the Stetler Model, the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model, the Stevens Star Model, the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS), the Advancing Research and Clinical practice through close collaboration (ARCC) model. They were analysed according to the Nilsen classification. An evidence-based implementation project must be structured. First, it is necessary to choose an implementation model, then identify one or more implementation strategies, and finally, plan evaluation for implementation outcome. The use of implementation science ensures successful implementation or at least highlights barriers that need adjustment. Effective utilisation of implementation science facilitates the transfer of obtained results to similar contexts. Implementation science complements the EBP process perfectly and ensures the proper implementation of evidence. EBP mentors now have the entire structure of implementation science to succeed in implementing evidence-based data in both academic and clinical settings. The discursive paper addresses the difficulties of implementing evidence in academic or clinical settings. Implementation science is the bridge between evidence and practice. Nurses now have everything they need to implement evidence-based practice successfully. There was no patient or public involvement in the design or writing of this discursive article.

Pain Management Methods and Techniques in Lumbar Disc Surgery: A Narrative Review Study

Background and Aim: This study examines the complex field of pain treatment related to lumbar disc disorders in a narrative review. Methods and Materials/Patients: Our search strategy involved utilizing specific terms, including ‘pain management,’ ‘lumbar disc surgery,’ ‘methods,’ and ‘techniques.’ We formulated a search query using Boolean operators: (‘Pain management’ OR ‘analgesia’) AND (‘lumbar disc surgery’ OR ‘spinal surgery’) AND (‘techniques’ OR ‘procedures’ OR ‘approaches’ OR ‘methods’) AND ‘narrative review.’ A systematic search was conducted across reputable medical databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library. Filters were applied to refine search results based on publication type and date, with a focus on material published within the past two decades to ensure the inclusion of current, high-quality literature. Results: This study synthesized information from several sources, demonstrating the changing methods used to address pain in lumbar disc disorders. The article explored the historical background of medical treatments, emphasized both contemporary surgical and non-surgical methods, and investigated the predicted factors that affect the results. The study investigated the range of surgical incidents and examined the clinical factors to be taken into account for treatments. The value of efficient pain treatment in alleviating chronic back pain and maximizing patient results was emphasized. Conclusion: In conclusion, this review underscores the paramount importance of comprehensive management of lumbar disc pain. It stresses that effective pain control not only alleviates immediate suffering but also plays a pivotal role in ensuring positive surgical experiences, enhancing patient outcomes, and promoting long-term well-being.

Effectiveness of Educational Interventions to Develop Patient Safety Competencies in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Systematic Review.

Nursing professionals are key to providing safe care that improves patient outcomes. Hence, it is essential to focus on developing nurses' patient safety competencies and principles. This review examined the effectiveness of educational interventions in developing patient safety knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes in undergraduate nursing students. The search strategy aimed to identify published and unpublished studies in databases and grey literature. Studies were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. A total of 36 studies met the inclusion criteria. The teaching methods employed single or combined interventions and the educational interventions suggested either improvements in outcomes or no impact. The effectiveness of educational interventions to develop patient safety competencies in undergraduate nursing students, either as a single or combined strategy, was mixed. Further research is needed to provide more robust evidence on which teaching method for patient safety is most effective.

Cortical activity in body balance tasks as a function of motor and cognitive demands: A systematic review.

Technological tools, like electroencephalography and functional near-infrared spectroscopy, have deepened our understanding of cortical regions involved in balance control. In this systematic literature review, we aimed to identify the prevalent cortical areas activated during balance tasks with specific motor or cognitive demands. Our search strategy encompassed terms related to balance control and cortical activity, yielding 2250 results across five databases. After screening, 67 relevant articles were included in the review. Results indicated that manipulations of visual and/or somatosensory information led to prevalent activity in the parietal, frontal and temporal regions; manipulations of the support base led to prevalent activity of the parietal and frontal regions; both balance-cognitive dual-tasking and reactive responses to extrinsic perturbations led to prevalent activity in the frontal and central regions. These findings deepen our comprehension of the cortical regions activated to manage the complex demands of maintaining body balance in the performance of tasks posing specific requirements. By understanding these cortical activation patterns, researchers and clinicians can develop targeted interventions for balance-related disorders.

Utilisation of the minimally invasive chevron akin (mica) osteotomy for severe hallux valgus: a systematic review.

Hallux valgus is the most common forefoot disease that can cause pain and be disabling for the patient. Many surgical procedures have been described to correct this deformity; over the last years, the minimally invasive Chevron and Akin osteotomies (MICA) technique has become very popular. The aim of this review was to assess if MICA technique is a reliable procedure for treating severe hallux valgus. A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The keywords were searched in PubMed Medline and Cochrane library. To minimise the number of missed studies, no filters were applied to the search strategy. To be considered for this review, the articles needed to comply with the following inclusion criteria: Minimally invasive Chevron and Akin osteotomy (MICA) for severe hallux valgus (HVA > 40°, IMA > 16°), patient age over 18years and minimum follow-up of 6months. Following the PRISMA flow chart 7 studies met the inclusion criteria and were taken into consideration in the review. We reached a population of 582 patients for a total of 676 feet. Males and females were 64 and 518, respectively. The mean age was 54.15 ± 8.25. The mean follow-up was 23.74 ± 9.60months. All the studies reported an improvement in clinical results, in terms of function and quality of life. Radiological variables, mostly IMA and HVA, assessed pre- and postoperatively showed significant improvement in all studies included. Despite the limited number of published studies in the literature, the available evidence reveals good clinical outcomes and high levels of patient satisfaction. Percutaneous surgery for severe hallux valgus can achieve great deformity correction with reasonable rates of residual deformity. Patient satisfaction and quality of life following third-generation MICA surgery is very high.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence in postpartum women and physiotherapy interventions applied: An integrative review.

This integrative review identified studies that reported the prevalence of physiotherapeutic interventions for urinary incontinence among postpartum women. This is an integrative literature review study. We used the integrative literature review framework proposed by Whittemore and Knafl to search for relevant literature. The search strategy for electronic databases was developed from the research question and definitions of key concepts, assisted by the librarian. Databases that were searched include Google Scholar, Medline (PubMed), CINAHL, and the Joanna Briggs Institute databases. Both qualitative and quantitative studies that met the inclusion criteria were included. We used the CASP tool to assess the quality of selected papers. The included articles were thematically analyzed. Thirty-six papers met the inclusion criteria for the review. Six themes emerged from the analysis: prevalence of postpartum UI; risk factors for postpartum UI; antenatal pelvic floor muscle training; conservative treatment and quality of life; experiences of postpartum women with UI; and possible coping strategies adopted by women. Most of the articles were quantitative studies (80.5%); 16.6% were qualitative and 2.7% adopted mixed methods. Urinary incontinence is common in postpartum women. Antenatal pelvic floor muscle training is protective against postpartum UI and should be the first-line treatment option.

Impact of breast reconstruction on quality of life in women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis using the Breast-Q questionnaire

Introduction: Post-mastectomy breast reconstruction is crucial in breast cancer treatment; however, its impact on women’s quality of life (QOL) remains inadequately understood. The BREAST-Q questionnaire is used for assessing QOL related to breast surgery. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether there are differences in QOL between women undergoing mastectomy with and without breast reconstruction using the BREAST-Q questionnaire. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO. Articles in English, Portuguese, or Spanish were included, and studies on prophylactic mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery, duplicate studies, duplicate data, articles without original data (reviews, editorials, case reports, technical reports) and those without breast reconstruction were excluded. A comprehensive search was conducted across nine scientific databases. The defined search strategy was related to the terms standardized by the MeSH/PubMed controlled vocabularies, including Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), Embase subject headings (Emtree), and their synonyms. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the chi-squared and inconsistency tests. Statistical analyses were performed using the R software. A meta-analysis was performed for each BREAST-Q domain when data from multiple studies were available. Results: Of 1266 studies identified, three with 611 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Of these participants, 248 underwent mastectomy without reconstruction and 363 underwent post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. The meta-analysis revealed significantly higher scores in the domains “satisfaction with the breast,” “physical well-being of the chest,” “psychosocial well-being,” and “physical well-being” in women who underwent breast reconstruction compared with those who did not. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a positive association between breast reconstruction and enhanced QOL in women undergoing breast cancer treatment and mastectomy. Patient-reported outcome measures using questionnaires, such as Breast-Q, can elucidate satisfaction levels with the reconstruction, which will likely improve continuously with advances in modern plastic surgery.