Semi-systematic Review Research Articles

Environmental Sustainability, Food Quality and Convertibility of Bio‐Based Barrier Coatings for Fibre‐Based Food Packaging: A Semisystematic Review

ABSTRACTThe ongoing legislative drive to reduce plastic consumption and promote the circularity of materials in Europe is reshaping food packaging market dynamics and making sustainability a key competitive factor in the sector. Legislation accelerates research and innovation in bio‐based, biodegradable and recyclable alternatives and motivates the industry to adopt sustainable designs while enhancing compliance with environmental standards. Renewable and natural resource‐based materials, such as polysaccharides, nanocellulose, lignin, lipids, phenolic compounds and proteins, have been extensively investigated in the last decade. Their use in dispersion coatings and biopolymer compounds for paper and paperboard barriers is often referred to as a sustainable packaging solution. This semisystematic review compiled available quantitative and qualitative data on the environmental sustainability, food quality and convertibility of novel bio‐based barrier coatings for food packaging. The results highlight a research gap in assessing environmental performance and the overuse of the term ‘sustainable’ and ‘biodegradable’. However, convertibility and film formability issues remain major obstacles that must be overcome before the scaling up of production of such coatings. Although bio‐based coatings demonstrate potential to extend the shelf life of certain fruits and mushrooms compared with uncoated paper or paperboard, numerous studies lack direct comparisons with conventional packaging methods. Further exploration of these aspects will facilitate science‐ and data‐driven innovation and decision‐making in industry, policy and academia in the development of sustainable bio‐based packaging.

Cadastres and land management in Africa: Discussions on their sustainability and lessons through a semisystematic review

The challenge of developing cadastral infrastructure in Africa is inextricably linked to the global issues of sustainable development. Indeed, in light of the constraints inherent to conventional cadastral systems, alternative systems developed through land regulation programmes (LRPs) are compelled to align with the tenets of sustainable development. A discursive study, conducted through a semisystematic literature review, enabled the selection of 53 documents on cadastral systems deployed in multiple countries across the African continent. A number of systems were identified and grouped into four categories: urban, rural, participatory and hybrid cadastral systems. These systems are developed on the basis of standards and sociotechnical approaches, including the LADM, STDM, and FFP, as well as innovative technologies such as blockchain. However, their sustainability is limited by the fact that they are not multipurpose cadastral systems. Consequently, there is an urgent need for studies to develop a global framework that will produce truly significant and sustainable results for all sections of society.

Ionizing radiation and skin cancer—a review of current evidence

Cancer of the skin represents a challenge for radiological protection, as it is very common and involves the largest organ of the human body, which is exposed to environmental stress, including ionizing radiation. The most common subtypes, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) have very low mortality. Current consideration of skin cancer in radiological protection is mainly based on data from the 1990s, which indicate that BCC may be induced by ionizing radiation, SCC is only weakly associated with ionizing radiation, and malignant melanoma (MM) is not considered as ionizing radiation-induced. In a semi-systematic review of the evidence between 1990 and 2023, we snowballed 19 index articles. We identified 29 articles with information on a potential dose-response relationship between skin cancer and ionizing radiation exposure and assessed the evidence for a causal association. Exposure situations included a-bomb survivors, therapeutic and occupational exposure (airlines, nuclear and medical facilities) and residents exposed to radon. There is currently no epidemiological evidence that MM or SCC are caused by ionizing radiation. The only skin cancer type with evidence for a causal relationship is BCC, and evidence is limited to exposures above 0.5 Gy with a wide range of risk levels per dose. Thus, ionizing radiation-inducible skin cancer refers to BCC only and only at levels of exposure beyond those experienced by the vast majority of people exposed today.

Empowering Communities to Act for a Change: A Review of the Community Empowerment Programs towards Sustainability and Resilience

At the global level, significant efforts have been made to address societal challenges and improve the lives of people and restore the planet’s ecosystems through sustainability and resilience programs. These programs, however, tend to be driven by governments, private sectors, and financial institutions, and therefore often lack a process of empowerment to ensure that the local communities can participate actively in co-designing and implementing these programs. More knowledge is needed on how to develop such programs and how the process of empowerment can be organized so that it supports in the long run sustainability transformation. Against this background, the paper explores the role of community empowerment programs as a critical tool for sustainability management strategies and practices. A semi-systematic review of 21 community empowerment programs for sustainability and resilience is conducted. The analysis reveals that the programs mostly aimed to address challenges such as the lack of education and capacity, limited access to basic services and resources, and poor governance and management. The programs initiators involve a diverse set of actors, especially through established partnerships and networks. Most of the programs address the specific needs of vulnerable or marginalized groups or communities. The structure of the programs typically follows a phased methodological approach, beginning with awareness-raising and problem identification, followed by capacity building that allows for making decisions collaboratively and for co-creating innovative solutions based on local knowledge and values. Also, monitoring and evaluation of transformative impact are mentioned as important structural elements. Specifically, the analysis highlights four main focus areas of empowerment: (1) capacity building, (2) self-reliance, control, ownership, responsibility, and independence, (3) participation, engagement, and collective action, and (4) integration of local knowledge and values. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to such programs. Instead, successful empowerment programs towards sustainability depend on a deep understanding of local contexts and the ability to tailor strategies to meet specific community needs. The review also identified knowledge gaps that require further investigation to enhance the effectiveness of empowerment programs for both people and nature.

Faces of Power in Organizations: Foundations, Applications, and Extension

Questions of power are core to organizations, organizing, and the conduct of the organized. Organizational research, however, often avoids addressing questions of power in the direct, explicit, straightforward fashion that their theoretical importance would warrant. Mainstream management and organization studies, including work and organizational psychology and organizational behavior, typically limit themselves to basic and narrow conceptualizations of episodic interpersonal power. Building on broader theorizing in political and social science, an integrative literature review has introduced the ‘four faces of power’ to organizational research a decade ago. Albeit frequently referred to, applications of this model seem rare. However, a systematic assessment of the literature is lacking. Against this backdrop, objectives of this contributions are three-fold: First, an overview of foundational theories and taxonomies for the study of power in organizations is provided. Secondly, a semi-systematic review of the uptake of the ‘four faces of power’ taxonomy in the organizational literature is presented. After seven identified applications are summarized, the current state of knowledge and further research needs are discussed. Finally, an extended version of ‘six faces of power’ is suggested. Envisioned is a perspective that puts power into the foreground of organizational research.

Therapeutic Effects of Garlic (Allium Sativum) Compounds from Different Pretreatment Processes on Women's Reproductive Health: A Narrative Review

Women’s reproductive health disorders occur due to oxidative stress and can be treated with antioxidant intake. One of them is by utilizing the phytochemical content of garlic (Allium sativum). The semi-systematic review method helps authors to identify the pretreatment of garlic compound S-allyl cysteine (SAC) on women's reproductive health. The literature collection was adjusted to the study of the treatment of garlic compounds with search keywords used “Garlic”, “Reproductive health”, “S-allyl cysteine”, and “Women”. The sources used come from online publications from 2010 to 2024. The form of research in the literature review was carried out on test animals, test cells, and test treatments on humans. The selection of information in the reviewed article refers to the year of publication, test products, sample objects, research methods, results, and discussion. The interpretation of the results will be explained descriptively based on the review analysis. Ten study articles have a positive effect of garlic compounds on women's reproductive health. The pretreatment carried out was garlic extract, garlic powder, hexane extract of aged black garlic, dried garlic powder, and aged garlic (black) extract. This review shows that garlic has a main compound S-allyl cysteine (SAC). The bioactive components of garlic can stimulate antioxidant activity and increase the fertility of reproductive organs because it increases the metabolism of oocytes, hormonal regulation, and the maturation of the endometrium. The results of garlic pretreatment showed that aged garlic (black garlic) extract contained S-allyl cysteine (SAC) with more compounds, was more stable, soluble in water, and had minimal toxic content. It allows black garlic (SAC) to have prophylactic properties at the clinical level, so it is possible to develop research on black garlic's effects on women's reproductive health.

Methods for Teaching Health Equity and Diversity, Equity Inclusion, and Accessibility to Public Health Practitioners: A Semisystematic Review of the Literature.

Training developers and educators play a crucial role in building strategic skills among the public health workforce. They prepare the workforce to respond to and address emerging concerns and priorities, including on the topics of health equity and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). The purpose of this semisystematic literature review was to identify current evidence-based methods that training developers and educators can apply when teaching DEIA and health equity principles to public health practitioners from various disciplines in the workforce. We conducted a semisystematic literature review because this methodology's purpose is to extract rich, in-depth descriptions that matched the aim to find evidence-based teaching methods to apply. Six methods that hold promise for effective teaching health equity and DEIA principles emerged as themes: Critical Reflection, Service Learning, Case Studies, Peer-Learning/Dialogue, Workshops, and Simulation Learning. Considerations for best practice identified in this literature review include using multimodal approach to support different learning styles among diverse audiences, tailoring content based on training needs analysis recommendations, and considering onus placed on instructors and learners depending on the content and setting.

The Winding Path of Depression in Argentina from Awareness to Functional Recovery

Background: Despite the huge global socioeconomic burden of depressive disorders, depression is often underreported and undertreated due to a lower level of awareness from both healthcare providers and payers in many countries. The lack of an evidence-based approach to care delivery has resulted in the inequitable allocation of health resources, causing resource scarcity issues in Argentina. Objective: The aim of this paper is to identify the gaps in evidence related to patients’ journeys and barriers in the existing care ecosystem contributing to poor access to quality care for depression in an Argentine context. Methods: A semi-systematic review of the literature was performed from 2012 to 2021 using Medline, Embase and Biosis and other unstructured sources (Google Scholar, the World Health Organization (WHO) website, Argentina Ministry of Health website, and Incidence and Prevalence Database (IPD) on awareness, screening, diagnosis, treatment, adherence and/or control of depression amongst adults (≥18 years). Any identified data gaps were supplemented with anecdotal data from local experts. Results: Low percentages of adult patients with depression awareness (<25%), screening (<10%), diagnosis (37.5%), received treatment (41.9%), adherence to treatment (37.5%), and control (37.5%) were observed. Conclusion: Ensuring a care continuum while considering full clinical remission with functional recovery as a therapeutic goal and advocacy for patient-centric adjustments in existing mental health policies would be key drivers for improving the depression care scenario.

ESG INTEGRATION IN FINANCIAL SECTORS: A CASE OF SUSTAINABILITY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Purpose: The integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in the financial sector, aiming to comprehend the present tactics, evaluating the efficiency of sustainability investment, and recognizing the challenges and opportunities that financial firms face while implementing ESG criteria. Design/Methodology/Approach: A semi-systematic review methodology, looking at secondary data from a variety of released papers and articles collected through platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Shodh Ganga, and Springer. This method provides an in-depth analysis of trends and difficulties in ESG integration in the financial sector. Findings: The financial institution under consideration has greatly improved its business image and trademark value by implementing ESG standards. Integrating ESG principles has helped to manage risks, improve long-term financial viability, and meet the demands of regulators. However, the organization faces obstacles such as data quality issues, the credibility of ESG claims, and the need to combine short-term financial goals with long-term sustainability objectives. The case study emphasizes the potential for new financial products, as well as the importance of strong regulatory frameworks to facilitate ESG integration. Practical Implications: The results suggest that uniform reporting standards and complete ESG compliance procedures are essential for successful ESG integration. The financial institution should integrate ESG into its essential business strategies to improve productivity and stakeholder trust. Also, regulatory settings must promote innovation and standardization of ESG practices, as well as raise market knowledge and educate consumers about the financial ramifications of these principles. Originality/Value: This work provides a thorough examination of the current level of ESG integration in the financial sector, emphasizing both the benefits and problems. It makes practical ideas for enhancing ESG practices and emphasizes the need for more study to better understand the long-term effects of ESG on financial success. Paper Type: Case study KEYWORDS: ESG Integration, Sustainability Investment Performance, Sustainability in Finance

A review of Global Carbon Markets from Kyoto to Paris and beyond: the persistent failure of implementation

This review article provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary and in-depth analysis of how the idea of Global Carbon Markets (GCM) has evolved from the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement and the post-Paris Agreement period (2015–2022) and why no real consensus has been reached after 25 years of negotiations, based on the categorisation of different arguments from different authors. We apply a semi-systematic review to 32 scientific articles, special reports, and relevant websites to analyse the failure in reaching international consensus on GCM. We apply three dichotomies, market vs. non-market-based approaches, top-down vs. bottom-up and national vs. international level. There are two striking findings. First (out of the articles that can easily be placed along all three dichotomies), there is an overwhelming majority of articles combining market-based, top-down, and international level explanations. This is however countered by a second finding, namely, that there is also a clear historical trend which is unlikely to change away from top-down and towards bottom-up approaches since the Paris agreement, combined with a movement towards more non-market-based and national approaches.

Estrategias y directrices para la configuración estética del QR en publicidad

QR codes are sometimes used as a vital component of digital marketing strategies that seek to attract consumers' attention by converting their dull, black-and-white, checkered appearance into attractive designs. However, as changes to their visual appearance can lead to scanning failures, an understanding of the technical requirements and limitations of this technology is essential in order to develop a viable creative strategy. To this end, a semi-systematic review of the literature was carried out for the purpose of gathering information on possible strategies for enhancing QR codes without compromising their functionality, and to provide guidelines for manually customising these codes in a way that is effective. The aim of this paper is to reveal the amount of research that has focused on the relationship between the aesthetic characteristics of QR codes and their advertising effectiveness. The main findings include a scarcity of scientific analysis regarding this issue, yet multiple opportunities for the artistic modification of QR codes due to recent advances in generative artificial intelligence.

Peran Perguruan Tinggi dalam Menjaga Integritas Akademik pada Era Digital

In the digital era, universities play an important role in developing policies and technology to ensure students' academic integrity. This research aims to explore and analyze holistically the contribution and effectiveness of universities in maintaining academic integrity in the digital era. The research method used is a literature review with a semi-systematic review approach, which is then expanded with bibliometric analysis using the VOSViewer tool. Of the 115 papers identified in the bibliometric analysis with the keyword “college plagiarism”, it was found that the term “plagiarism” was often associated with “student”, “college”, “academic”, and “plagiarism”. Key relevant terms include “training”, “locus of control”, “rabin-karp”, “text mining”, “hash”, “levenshtein distance algorithm”, “similarity”, and “publication”. Universities should conduct training and strengthen students' locus of control to instill integrity values. The concept of “similarity” in plagiarism detection helps maintain the originality of academic work, while “rabin-karp” and “text mining” technologies are used to recognize plagiarized text and find suspicious patterns. The “hash” concept and “Levenshtein distance algorithm” are important in maintaining academic integrity, and “publication” ensures research meets academic integrity standards. Universities leaders are responsible for preventing plagiarism by implementing code of ethics and promoting awareness and understanding within the entire academic community.

Examining the Implementation of Situational Language Teaching (SLT) in the EFL classroom: A semi-systematic literature review

Situational Language Teaching (SLT) is well-known for its practical applications in second language teaching and learning, as it emphasizes the use of real-life situations and contexts. SLT has significantly influenced learners’ language skills since its inception. The need to analyze the implementation of SLT in the EFL classroom, arises with the need to examine the pedagogical methods and techniques used by teachers in SLT to foster English language skills, as well as students’ motivation to learn. This semi-systematic review examined four databases to provide an overview of the theoretical underpinnings of SLT and current studies with different methodologies, participants, and the efficacy of SLT in the development of EFL learners’ language skills, motivation and learning styles. The review provides an updated overview on SLT and its influence on the development of language skills of EFL learners.

Climate-Related Financial Risk: Insights from a Semisystematic Review of the Literature and Implications for Financial Reporting

Synopsis The research problem This paper provides a semisystematic review of the literature on climate-related financial risk, with particular emphasis on whether that risk is adequately priced by financial markets and the implications of that risk assessment for financial reporting. Motivation This paper was motivated by a strong perception that financial markets have become increasingly exposed to the perils of climate change, and a concern for whether the rapid expansion of the literature on this topic sufficiently addresses financial markets’ correct pricing of the uncertainties inherent in these perils. Our particular goals were to understand the expansion of this literature, identify the originating and influential works that may have spurred this expansion, and provide new directions for research. The research question Our paper reviews the research on whether climate-related financial risk is adequately priced by the financial markets. Target population We examined a comprehensive sample of articles on climate-related financial risk published in the Financial Times’ Top 50 (FT50) accounting, finance, management, and business ethics journals over three decades, ending in 2022. Our analysis of the evolution of knowledge on climate-related financial risk also includes studies in non-FT50 journals (prior works) that may have spurred subsequent work in FT50 journals; non-FT50 journals (derivative works) that are inspired by the studies in FT50 journals; and set of studies that are similar to those in FT50 journals in terms of the topic (similar works) published in an array of non-FT50 journals. Adopted methodology We conducted a semisystematic review of knowledge flow based on bibliographic coupling, cocitation, and direct citation. Analyses We reviewed FT50 articles to examine the topics, methods, samples, and results. We compared FT50 articles with non-FT50 articles to explore their respective number of publications and average citations over time. We also examined the extent to which the FT50 and non-FT50 journals included accounting papers and the extent to which the top 20 papers, based on their impact (defined as the number of times a paper was considered an influential work by the FT50 journal papers), included accounting papers. Findings Compared to non-FT50 journals, we find that FT50 journals largely ignored climate-related financial risk until about 2010, and that the average citation of an FT50 publication was lower than a non-FT50 publication until around 2017. The fraction of FT50 and non-FT50 accounting journals publishing on climate-related financial risk remained low across all years. Moreover, the top 20 studies, based on their impact, included very few accounting papers. Our review of the content of the FT50 studies identifies traits of the literature that limit its generalizability, namely, a heavy emphasis on samples of U.S. corporations and the extensive use of association tests to develop the findings. Our review of the literature on the pricing effects of climate-related financial risk suggests that financial markets only partially price this risk and that fundamental questions relevant to policy remain unanswered.

Moving towards a mechanistic understanding of biostimulant impacts on soil properties and processes: a semi-systematic review

Biostimulants are gaining prominence in scientific research, with the potential to enhance plant productivity through benefits to crop yield/quality and tolerance to environmental stresses. Through possible improvements to nutrient use efficiency, they may also lessen the adverse environmental impacts of conventional inorganic fertilizer use in agriculture. The application of biostimulants is currently uncommon as a farming practice, with uncertain effectiveness in delivering these potential benefits. Current research focuses on biostimulant effects on plant physiological changes. There is little scientific evidence on the impact of biostimulants on soil properties (biological, physical, or chemical) or soil functions. This knowledge gap should be addressed considering the vital role of soil processes in the bioavailability of nutrients, as reflected in crop productivity. This review evaluates laboratory and field experimental work on the effectiveness of common, non-microbial biostimulants, with a focus on their modes of action within the soil matrix. Of 2,097 initial articles returned through the search strings, 10 were within the scope of this review. A common soil biostimulant mechanism emerges from this literature. This relates to the supply of nutrients provided by the biostimulants, which stimulate native soil microbiology in mineralizing organic material in the soil, thus producing more bioavailable nutrients for plant uptake. Additionally, some articles link biostimulant effects to soil physical and chemical changes, which in turn impact soil biology (and vice versa). However, there is inconsistent evidence to provide full support for these explanatory mechanisms. This review highlights the need for further research into the effect of biostimulants on the native soil microbiology and associated soil properties, to provide greater clarity on biostimulants’ modes of action and greater mechanistic insights into how they can be used to improve crop production.

Awareness of Pregnant Patients about Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection-A Semi-Systematic Review.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection represents a major issue worldwide, since it constitutes the most common viral congenital infection, with a prevalence of 0.58% and 1-5% in developed and developing countries, respectively. According to recent studies, prenatal treatment significantly decreases the risk of vertical CMV transmission, and early intervention may even prevent the termination of pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the level of awareness of CMV among pregnant patients through a semi-systematic review. Methods: We included all of the original articles investigating knowledge and awareness about CMV infection among pregnant women. Our research included the PubMed database. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement, the Covidence system automatically guided us to screen the titles and/or abstracts, and then full-texts, followed by data extraction from the eligible studies. Results: We screened 764 studies altogether, with 13 studies included in this analysis. Knowledge about the existence of CMV infection risk varied between the articles, ranging from 11.4% in a study performed in Ireland to 60% reported in a study on the French population. Studies analyzing the impact of educational interventions on patients' knowledge about preventive measures reported significant improvement compared to their level of awareness before the intervention. Conclusions: Patients' awareness and knowledge about CMV seemed to be generally low or very low during the last decade before the development of effective secondary prevention methods. Educational interventions seem to be effective, and therefore their wide use could be of potential benefit. In the era of available secondary prevention of vertical transmission, it is crucial to concentrate the efforts of different stakeholders to increase the awareness of cCMV among pregnant women.

Non-Invasive Biosensing for Healthcare Using Artificial Intelligence: A Semi-Systematic Review.

The rapid development of biosensing technologies together with the advent of deep learning has marked an era in healthcare and biomedical research where widespread devices like smartphones, smartwatches, and health-specific technologies have the potential to facilitate remote and accessible diagnosis, monitoring, and adaptive therapy in a naturalistic environment. This systematic review focuses on the impact of combining multiple biosensing techniques with deep learning algorithms and the application of these models to healthcare. We explore the key areas that researchers and engineers must consider when developing a deep learning model for biosensing: the data modality, the model architecture, and the real-world use case for the model. We also discuss key ongoing challenges and potential future directions for research in this field. We aim to provide useful insights for researchers who seek to use intelligent biosensing to advance precision healthcare.

Discussion of “Climate-Related Financial Risk: Insights from a Semisystematic Review of the Literature and Implications for Financial Reporting”

In this discussion of Griffith and Sun [( 2024 ), Climate-related Financial Risk: Insights from a Semisystematic Review of the Literature and Implications for Financial Reporting” the International Journal of Accounting, this issue], I examine both the incremental contribution of their work and its limitations. Furthermore, I delve into the limitations inherent in the chosen research design strategy and discuss how these limitations may affect some of the documented findings, particularly those related to accounting research.

Consideration of the Medical Economics of Cardiac Genetics, Focusing on the Cost-Effectiveness of P2Y12 Inhibitor Selection Based on the CYP2C19 Loss-of-Function Allele: A Semi-Systematic Review

Medical economics is essential in cardiac genetics for the clinical application and development of research results. However, related economic evaluations are unclear, and limited systematic reviews are available on the cost-effectiveness of drug selection based on the CYP2C19 LOF allele. This review analyzed research in the MEDLINE database from January 2012 to June 2023 using more evidence than a well-designed cohort study, owing to the lack of relevant research in the database. For example, cost-effectiveness analyses are often reported as simulation assays, and were included in this analysis. No conditions related to patient background or antiplatelet drug therapy were selected. This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement (2020). Twenty-one cardiac genetic studies were selected, of which nineteen involved antiplatelet therapy after PCI. A universal group consisting of clopidogrel and other drugs was used as the baseline and compared with the drug selection groups based on the CYP2C19 LOF allele. The incremental cost–effectiveness ratio was generally below 50,000 (US$/Qaly), and drug selection based on the CYP2C19 LOF allele was the most cost-effective, followed by universal clopidogrel. Although cardiac genetic and economic data are rudimentary, this review indicates that antiplatelet therapy (drug selection based on the CYP2C19 LOF allele) after PCI is generally cost-effective.

Revue semi-systématique de la littérature sur l’annonce d’une maladie neuromusculaire à l’âge adulte

ObjectivesThe diagnosis of a neuromuscular disease constitutes a key moment in the relationship between patients and physicians. It is a determining factor in the patient's commitment to the treatment and in the process of experiencing disease as illness. In this perspective, receiving the diagnosis may induce confusion, long-term distress, resentment, anxiety, and a depressive syndrome in patients. From the physician's point of view, announcing a serious disease is also an emotionally burdensome and difficult act. The literature has shown that this practice may be a source of significant stress for professionals, which can lead to feelings of guilt, anger, fear of death, fear of disapproval, fear of not being good enough, and fear of their own emotional reactions as well as those of the patient. The announcement of a neuromuscular disease corresponds more specifically to the announcement of a chronic, progressive disease, often with no curative treatment, and is related to the announcement of a severe handicap. Often of genetic origin, these diseases also involve the risk of family transmission. In this sense, these pathologies have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and their families. Thus, announcing and receiving a diagnosis of a neuromuscular disease characterized by the chronicity of its evolution and the absence of curative treatment represents a real challenge and a communication issue: How to announce the disease and accompany the patient over the course of their illness? In light of this observation, the aim of this essay is to carry out a semi-systematic review of the literature on the communication of diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders appearing in adulthood. MethodsOur research consisted in two steps. First of all, we conducted research on the scientific databases Psyinfo, Pubmed, and Sciencedirect. Secondly, we completed this research with the Myobase database, specific to neuromuscular diseases. Given the small number of existing articles in the field of neuromuscular disorders (one of the specialties within neurology), we extended our research to the field of neurology on the scientific databases. Coming from Snyder's definition, we have analyzed the themes in which this subject is dealt with in literature. ResultsOur first search for neuromuscular diseases in the scientific databases didn’t lead to any results (n=0). The extension of this research to the Myobase database led to a very low number of articles collected (n=8). Finally, extended our search to the field of neurology led us to 21 articles. In total, n=29 articles (8 in the field of neuromuscular diseases and 21 in neurology) were used, including literature reviews, and quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method studies from adult patients and doctors. We also included articles such as doctors’ testimonies as well as the ones published in professional or specialized reviews. First of all, our results show that little is known about the specific process of the announcement in the field of neuromuscular disease. Less than 1/3 (8/29) of the present articles come from the field of neuromuscular disorders, of which only 3 correspond to research papers. Existing studies have essentially been carried out alongside patients and always retrospectively. This finding reveals a lack of understanding of the diagnostic process that takes place between the protagonists. Secondly, our thematic analysis shows: (1) the paradoxical lived experiences for patients; (2) the importance of the setting: the notion of temporality, the location, and the accompaniment of patients, which recall important aspects of patients’ perspectives that are not systematically taken into account by physicians; (3) “good” information emerges as a balance between qualitative and quantitative dimensions and needs to be tailored to the individuality and to the needs of each patient; (4) finally, the relationship between doctor and patient seems a support factor which unfortunately could also lead to misunderstandings. DiscussionThese results suggest that we consider: (1) the pharmakon effect of the announcement; (2) the setting of the announcement as a fundamental condition for the appropriation of the information by the patients; (3) the temporality of the announcement as an adjustment of the Chronos, Kairos, and Scholè times; and finally (4) the announcement as a process. ConclusionsFurther researches need to be done in order to better understand the communication process occurring during the diagnostic consultation in the specific field of neuromuscular disease: first, by integrating naturalistic data of announcement consultations; secondly, by exploring the relationship process occurring between neurologists and patients; and thirdly, by taking into account both doctors’ and patients’ experiences. This in order to better understand the source of misunderstanding and to contribute to the training of doctors to better support patients.