Systematic Mixed Studies Review Research Articles

Perspectives and thoughts of pregnant women and new mothers living with HIV receiving peer support: A mixed studies systematic review.

The aim of this study was to systematically consolidate evidence on perspectives and thoughts of women living with HIV regarding the peer support they have encountered during pregnancy and after childbirth. Mixed studies systematic review. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus and ProQuest were sourced from 1981 to January 2022. A convergent qualitative synthesis approach was used to analyse the data. Quality appraisal was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A total of 12 studies were included, involving 1596 pregnant women and 1856 new mothers living with HIV. An overarching theme, 'From One Mother to Another: The Supportive Journey of Pregnant Women and New Mothers Living with HIV', and two themes were identified: (1) Emotional support buddies and extended networks and (2) Link bridge to healthcare support and self-empowerment. Peer support played an indispensable role in the lives of women living with HIV and served as a complementary support system to professional and family support. What problem did the study address? Pregnant women and new mothers living with HIV face preconceived stigma and discrimination. What were the main findings? Peer support was perceived to be beneficial in enhancing emotional support among women living with HIV and was well-accepted by them. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? Healthcare providers and community social workers could develop or enhance peer support educational programmes tailored to pregnant women and new mothers living with HIV. Policymakers and administrators can leverage public awareness, advocacy and political will to formulate and implement policies and campaigns aimed at fostering awareness and receptivity towards peer support interventions. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). No patient or public contribution.

A systematic review of mixed methods studies published in six school psychology journals: Prevalence, characteristics, and trends from 2011 to 2020

AbstractMixed methods (MM) designs have gained more recognition in psychology in recent years due to the complementary strengths of integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The central elements of a MM design can be particularly useful in the field of school psychology, where both generalizations of group characteristics and exploration of individual perspectives are valued. Given the advantages of MM and their potential benefits in school psychology research, it is important to know the extent to which MM studies are published in school psychology journals and the general characteristics of such studies. This study examined articles published from 2011 to 2020 in six well‐known school psychology journals to (a) document the prevalence of MM articles published in each journal and in each year, (b) examine the characteristics of the identified MM studies, and (c) explore possible trends of MM publications in the 10‐year period. Findings revealed that although there is a significant increasing trend of MM studies published from the first 5 years (2011–2015) to the second 5 years (2016–2020), the percentage of MM studies is still very small in the journals assessed. Explanations, future study directions, and practical implications are provided to call for more attention and effort in facilitating the training and application of MM research.

Unpacking older adults’ experiences using mobile telepresence robots: A systematic mixed-studies review

This review aimed to explore the experiences of mobile telepresence robots (MTRs) among older adults (OAs) using a systematic mixed-studies approach. Ten electronic databases were searched for published and unpublished studies from inception to January 2022. The mixed methods assessment tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. A results-based convergent synthesis was employed to integrate quantitative and qualitative results. A total of 3,816 records were retrieved, and 43 studies were included, involving 1,568 participants across 19 countries. More than half of the selected studies had high methodological quality. After integrating findings from seven qualitative subthemes and eight quantitative categories, four themes emerged: (1) enjoyable experience, (2) willingness and acceptance, (3) promoting social connectedness, and (4) improved psychosocial and physiological well-being. The MTRs show promising benefits for OAs and their families. Future research should improve the design and functionalities of MTRs to customize different OAs.

Patient satisfaction with advanced physiotherapy practice internationally: Protocol for a systematic mixed studies review.

Patient satisfaction is a complex construct consisting of human and system attributes. Patient satisfaction can afford insight into patient experience, itself a key component of evaluating healthcare quality. Internationally, advanced physiotherapy practice (APP) extends across clinical fields and is characterised as a higher level of practice with a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making. Patient satisfaction with APP appears positive. While evidence synthesis of patient satisfaction with APP exists, no systematic review has synthesised evidence across clinical fields. Therefore, the objectives of this systematic review are 1) to evaluate patient satisfaction with APP internationally, and 2) to evaluate human and system attributes of patient satisfaction with APP. A systematic mixed studies review using a parallel-results convergent synthesis design will be conducted. Searches of Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane, PEDro and grey literature databases will be conducted from inception to 18/7/2023. Studies of APP (World Physiotherapy definition) whereby practitioners a) have advanced clinical and analytical skills that influence service improvement and provide clinical leadership, b) have post-registration masters level specialisation (or equivalence), c) deliver safe, competent care to patients with complex needs and d) may use particular occupational titles; that measure patient satisfaction across all clinical fields and countries will be included. Two reviewers will screen studies, extract data, assess methodological quality of included studies (mixed methods appraisal tool), and contribute to data synthesis. Quantitative data will undergo narrative synthesis (textual descriptions) and qualitative data thematic synthesis (analytical themes). Integration of data syntheses will inform discussion. This systematic review will provide insight into patient satisfaction with APP internationally, exploring attributes that influence satisfaction. This will aid design, implementation, or improvement of APP and facilitate the delivery of patient-centred, high-quality healthcare. Lastly, this review will inform future methodologically robust research investigating APP patient satisfaction and experience.

Policies and Management Interventions to Enhance Health and Care Workforce Capacity for Addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic: Protocol for a Living Systematic Review.

Countries and health systems have had to make challenging resource allocation and capacity-building decisions to promote proper patient care and ensure health and care workers' safety and well-being, so that they can effectively address the present COVID-19 pandemic as well as upcoming public health problems and natural catastrophes. As innovations are already in place and updated evidence is published daily, more information is required to inform the development and implementation of policies and interventions to improve health and care workforce capacity to address the COVID-19 pandemic response. The objective of this protocol review is to identify countries' range of experiences with policies and management interventions that can improve health and care workers' capacity to address the COVID-19 pandemic response and synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of the interventions. We will conduct a living systematic review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies and gray literature (technical and political documents) published in English, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2022. The databases to be searched are MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, SCOPUS, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature. In addition, the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Research Database and the websites of international organizations (International Labour Organization, Economic Co-operation and Development, and The Health System Response Monitor) will be searched for unpublished studies and gray literature. Data will be extracted from the selected documents using an electronic form adapted from the Joanna Briggs Institute quantitative and qualitative tools for data extraction. A convergent integrated approach to synthesis and integration will be used. The risk of bias will be assessed with Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools, and the certainty of the evidence in the presented outcomes will be assessed with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. The database and gray literature search retrieved 3378 documents. Data are being analyzed by 2 independent reviewers. The study is expected to be published by the end of 2023 in a peer-reviewed journal. This review will allow us to identify and describe the policies and strategies implemented by countries and their effectiveness, as well as identify gaps in the evidence. PROSPERO CRD42022327041; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=327041. RR1-10.2196/50306.

Big data management algorithms in artificial Internet of Things-based fintech

Research background: Fintech companies should optimize banking sector performance in assisting enterprise financing as a result of firm digitalization. Artificial IoT-based fintech-based digital transformation can relevantly reverse credit resource misdistribution brought about by corrupt relationship chains. Purpose of the article: We aim to show that fintech can decrease transaction expenses and consolidates firm stock liquidity, enabling excess leverage decrease and cutting down information asymmetry and transaction expenses across capital markets. AI- and IoT-based fintechs enable immersive and collaborative financial transactions, purchases, and investments in relation to payment tokens and metaverse wallets, managing financial data, infrastructure, and value exchange across shared interactive virtual 3D and simulated digital environments. Methods: AMSTAR is a comprehensive critical measurement tool harnessed in systematic review methodological quality evaluation, DistillerSR is harnessed in producing accurate and transparent evidence-based research through literature review stage automation, MMAT appraises and describes study checklist across systematic mixed studies reviews in terms of content validity and methodological quality predictors, Rayyan is a responsive and intuitive knowledge synthesis tool and cloud-based architecture for article inclusion and exclusion suggestions, and ROBIS appraises systematic review bias risk in relation to relevance and concerns. As a reporting quality assessment tool, the PRISMA checklist and flow diagram, generated by a Shiny App, was used. As bibliometric visualization and construction tools for large datasets and networks, Dimensions and VOSviewer were leveraged. Search terms were “fintech” + “artificial intelligence”, “big data management algorithms”, and “Internet of Things”, search period was June 2023, published research inspected was 2023, and selected sources were 35 out of 188. Findings & value added: The growing volume of financial products and optimized operational performance of financial industries generated by fintech can provide firms with multifarious financing options quickly. Big data-driven fintech innovations are pivotal in banking and capital markets in relation to financial institution operational efficiency. Through data-driven technological and process innovation capabilities, AI system-based businesses can further automated services.

Self-Management of Long-Term Physical Conditions During Emerging Adulthood: A Systematic Review

The aim of this mixed-studies systematic review was to synthesise existing research to identify if the five features of emerging adulthood (identity exploration; instability; self-focus; feeling in-between; possibilities) were evident in the self-management of long-term physical conditions by emerging adults (aged 18 – 29 years old). Five databases were systematically searched. Thirty papers met the eligibility criteria and were included. The synthesis identified that the five features of emerging adulthood are present in the self-management strategies and tasks of emerging adults living with long-term physical conditions. Due to numerous transitions, that characterise this unstable developmental period, emerging adults encounter specific self-management challenges. However, a greater understanding of the extent to which each of the five features are present and the challenges posed to the self-management of a long-term physical condition in emerging adults is required. This will inform targeted self-management supports and interventions in the future.

An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Tissue Oximetry Versus Conventional Methods for Postoperative Monitoring of Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

Tissue oximetry monitoring has shown superior outcomes to conventional monitoring methods for autologous breast reconstruction in retrospective studies with consecutive cohorts. A recent study used consecutive cohorts with tissue oximetry as the earlier cohort and found that tissue oximetry was nonsuperior. We hypothesize that improvement in microsurgical outcomes with institutional experience confounds the superiority of tissue oximetry demonstrated in prior studies. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the outcomes of tissue oximetry monitoring compared with conventional monitoring. Relevant studies were found using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science searches for keywords such as near-infrared spectroscopy or tissue oximetry and microsurgery. Studies included compared tissue oximetry and conventional monitoring in autologous breast reconstruction patients. Studies were excluded if they did not contain a comparison group. Random-effective models were used to analyze early returns to the operating room, the total number of partial or complete flap loss, and late fat necrosis. Six hundred sixty-nine studies were identified; 3 retrospective cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 1644 flaps were in the tissue oximetry cohort, and 1387 flaps were in the control cohort. One study contained tissue oximetry as the former cohort; 2 had tissue oximetry as the latter. Neither technique was superior for any measured outcomes. The estimated mean differences between tissue oximetry and conventional monitoring method were early returns, -0.06 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.52 to 0.410; P = 0.82); partial flap loss, -0.04 (95% CI, -0.86 to 0.79; P = 0.93); complete flap loss, -1.29 (95% CI, -3.45 to 0.87; P = 0.24); and late fat necrosis -0.02 (95% CI, -0.42 to, 0.39; P = 0.94). In a systematic review and meta-analysis of mixed timeline retrospective cohort studies, tissue oximetry does not provide superior patient outcomes and shifts our current understanding of postoperative breast reconstruction monitoring. Prospective studies and randomized trials comparing monitoring methods need to be included in the existing literature.

Conceptualising food banking in the UK: A mixed studies systematic review and directed content analysis

Conceptualising food banking in the UK: A mixed studies systematic review and directed content analysis

Distress, burden, and wellbeing in siblings of people with mental illness: a mixed studies systematic review and meta-analysis.

Family members of people with mental illness (MI) may experience a host of psychological adversities such as increased stress, burden, and reduced wellbeing. However, relatively little is known about siblings. This study aimed to characterise the experience of distress (viz. depressive and anxiety symptoms), burden, and wellbeing in siblings of people with MI. Studies reporting on quantitative measures of depression, anxiety, burden, or wellbeing in siblings; and/or qualitative findings on siblings' experience were eligible. The literature search was conducted up until 20th October 2022. Sixty-two studies comprising data from 3744 siblings were included. The pooled mean percentage of depressive symptoms fell in the mild range at 15.71 (k = 28, N = 2187, 95% CI 12.99-18.43) and anxiety symptoms fell in the minimal range at 22.45 (k = 16, N = 1122, 95% CI 17.09-27.80). Moderator analyses indicate that siblings of people with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder experience greater depressive symptoms than siblings of people with other types of MI (β = -16.38, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings suggest that individuals may be particularly vulnerable during their siblings' illness onset and times of relapse. Limited communication, confusion about MI, and the need to compensate may contribute to siblings' distress and/or burden. Siblings' experience of wellbeing and caregiving were closely related. This review highlights the complex psychological experience of siblings and the need for greater research and clinical support for this important yet often overlooked cohort.

Telemedicine in the primary care of older adults: a systematic mixed studies review

BackgroundFamily physicians had to deliver care remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their efforts highlighted the importance of developing a primary care telemedicine (TM) model. TM has the potential to provide a high-quality option for primary care delivery. However, it poses unique challenges for older adults. Our aim was therefore to explore the effects of TM and the determinants of its use in primary care for older adults.MethodsIn this systematic mixed studies review, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINHAL, AgeLine, DARE, Cochrane Library, and clinical trials research registers were searched for articles in English, French or Russian. Two reviewers performed study selection, data extraction and assessment of study quality. TM’s effects were reported through the tabulation of key variables. TM use determinants were interpreted using thematic analysis based on Chang’s framework. All data were integrated using a joint display matrix.ResultsFrom 3,328 references identified, 20 studies were included. They used either phone (n = 8), videoconference (n = 9) or both (n = 3). Among studies reporting positive outcomes in TM experience, ‘user habit or preferences’ was the most cited barrier and ‘location and travel time’ was the most cited facilitator. Only one study reported negative outcomes in TM experience and reported ‘comfort with patient communication’ and ‘user interface, intended use or usability’ as barriers, and ‘technology skills and knowledge’ and ‘location and travel time’ as facilitators.Among studies reporting positive outcomes in service use and usability, no barrier or facilitator was cited more than once. Only one study reported a positive outcome in health-related and behavioural outcomes.ConclusionsTM in older adults’ primary care generally led to positive experiences, high satisfaction and generated an interest towards alternative healthcare delivery model. Future research should explore its efficacy on clinical, health-related and healthcare services use.

A systematic review of mixed studies on malaria in Colombia 1980–2022: what the “bifocal vision” discovers

Mixed methods are essential in public health research and malaria control, because they allow grasping part of the complexity and diversity of the factors that determine health-disease. This study analyzes the mixed studies on malaria in Colombia, 1980–2022, through a systematic review in 15 databases and institutional repositories. The methodological quality was assessed with Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE), and Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). The qualitative and quantitative findings were grouped into a four-level hierarchical matrix. The epidemiological profile of malaria morbidity, from traditional epidemiology, has been sustained by environmental problems, armed conflict, individual risk behaviors, and low adherence to recommendations from health institutions. However, the qualitative component reveals deeper causes that are less studied, of greater theoretical complexity, and that reflect challenges to design and implement health interventions, such as socioeconomic and political crises, poverty, and the neoliberal orientation in the malaria control policy; the latter reflected in the change in the role of the State, the fragmentation of control actions, the predominance of insurance over social assistance, the privatization of the provision of health services, the individualistic and economistic predominance of health, and low connection with popular tradition and community initiatives. The above confirms the importance of expanding mixed studies as a source of evidence to improve malaria research and control models in Colombia, and to identify the underlying causes of the epidemiological profile.

Why is pain management so difficult in the Emergency Department? A systematic mixed studies review and thematic synthesis of staff perceptions of enablers and barriers to pain management within the Emergency Department

IntroductionPain is the most common presenting feature within the ED, yet undertreatment of pain in the ED is a well-documented problem worldwide. Despite the development of interventions to address this...

Does applying the principles of constructivism learning add to the popularity of serious games? A systematic mixed studies review

This study aimed to identify factors for evaluating the quality of serious games (SG) based on constructivist learning principles. Adopting the Systematic Mixed Studies Review, four factors of problem- centeredness, interaction, activity-centeredness and discovery were identified along with 29 items. Then, in order to check the validity of this indices, six of the best- selling games in Iranian context among 7–12 year old children were evaluated by 35 6th grade boys through content analysis which revealed that 84.10% of the content of this games was designed and developed according to constructivist learning principles. Hence, SG designer and developer should provide users with opportunities for discovery, problem solving, interaction, giving feedback and creating knowledge through real- world problems.

Types and effects of feedback for emergency ambulance staff: a systematic mixed studies review and meta-analysis

BackgroundExtensive research has been conducted into the effects of feedback interventions within many areas of healthcare, but prehospital emergency care has been relatively neglected. Exploratory work suggests that enhancing feedback...

Telehealth in palliative care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic mixed studies review.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused unprecedented disruption to healthcare delivery worldwide. The use of telehealth practices rapidly expanded during the pandemic, while its application in palliative care remains a conflicted issue. The aims of this study were to evaluate users' reports of their satisfaction with telehealth palliative care during COVID-19 and to identify facilitators and barriers to telehealth implementation in palliative care during COVID-19. A systematic search of the literature, including studies between January 2020 and June 2022, was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, Embase, and Google Scholar. Empirical studies of telehealth in palliative care during COVID-19 were included. A total of 18 studies were included in the review, of which nine were outpatient consultations, four were family meetings, two were remote volunteering programs, two were inpatient care, and one was a residential care home needs assessment. The satisfaction rates were high (66%-99%) among patients and family members who participated in telehealth consultations, but the satisfaction with family meetings was mixed. Compared with their clients, healthcare professionals were less likely to assess telehealth as satisfactory. The authors identified four barriers and four facilitators. The barriers were technological challenges, lack of nonverbal communication, ethical concerns, and limitations for clinical practice. The facilitators were accessibility and convenience, visual cues, facilitation and training, and family engagement. This systematic mixed studies review suggests that current evidence supports the feasibility of telehealth implementation in palliative care for outpatient consultations and routine follow-up appointments. This review also identified facilitators and barriers to telehealth in palliative care, and the findings can inform the implementation of future palliative care services. Future attention should be paid to the effectiveness of telehealth implementation in palliative care patients.

Advantages and Challenges of Using Telehealth for Home-Based Palliative Care: Systematic Mixed Studies Review

Owing to the increasing number of people with palliative care needs and the current shortage of health care professionals (HCPs), providing quality palliative care has become challenging. Telehealth could enable patients to spend as much time as possible at home. However, no previous systematic mixed studies reviews have synthesized evidence on patients' experiences of the advantages and challenges of telehealth in home-based palliative care. In this systematic mixed studies review, we aimed to critically appraise and synthesize the findings from studies that investigated patients' use of telehealth in home-based palliative care, focusing on the advantages and challenges experienced by patients. This is a systematic mixed studies review with a convergent design. The review is reported according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. A systematic search was performed in the following databases: Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria were as follows: studies using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods; studies that investigated the experience of using telehealth with follow-up from HCPs of home-based patients aged ≥18; studies published between January 2010 and June 2022; and studies published in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, English, Portuguese, or Spanish in peer-reviewed journals. Five pairs of authors independently assessed eligibility of the studies, appraised methodological quality, and extracted data. The data were synthesized using thematic synthesis. This systematic mixed studies review included 41 reports from 40 studies. The following 4 analytical themes were synthesized: potential for a support system and self-governance at home; visibility supports interpersonal relationships and a joint understanding of care needs; optimized information flow facilitates tailoring of remote caring practices; and technology, relationships, and complexity as perpetual obstacles in telehealth. The advantages of telehealth were that patients experience a potential support system that could enable them to remain at home, and the visual features of telehealth enable them to build interpersonal relationships with HCPs over time. Self-reporting provides HCPs with information about symptoms and circumstances that facilitates tailoring care to specific patients. Challenges with the use of telehealth were related to barriers to technology use and inflexible reporting of complex and fluctuating symptoms and circumstances using electronic questionnaires. Few studies have included the self-reporting of existential or spiritual concerns, emotions, and well-being. Some patients perceived telehealth as intrusive and a threat to their privacy at home. To optimize the advantages and minimize the challenges with the use of telehealth in home-based palliative care, future research should include users in the design and development process.

Unified Sports, Social Inclusion, and Athlete-Reported Experiences: A Systematic Mixed Studies Review

AbstractInclusive sports have emerged as a potential tool for building social inclusion within diverse populations. The Special Olympics Unified Sports programs are an example of inclusion initiatives specific to students with intellectual disability and sports that can be reevaluated with new understandings of inclusion. This systematic mixed studies review aimed to capture athlete Unified Sports experiences and identify what athletes reported about their participation. The systematic review identified nine original studies conducted by six unrelated research groups. Results across the studies are synthesized and suggestions for future research are presented. Athletes in all nine studies reviewed reported positive experiences with Unified Sports leading to increased social inclusion and/or self-concepts.

Barriers and Facilitators of Robot-Assisted Education in Higher Education: A Systematic Mixed-Studies Review

Lack of motivation and enjoyment is a challenge that many students face. Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, many lessons are not being conducted face-to-face. However, the use of robots has been proven able to alleviate this challenge. This review explores the barriers and facilitators of robot-assisted education among higher education students. Ten databases were comprehensively searched for studies in English. Both published and unpublished studies were considered without a time limit. A systematic mixed-studies review was adopted and the mixed method appraisal tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the selected articles. The qualitative and quantitative findings were then synthesized via thematic and narrative syntheses, respectively. To integrate these two sets of findings, a result-based convergent synthesis was performed. A total of 28 studies covering 1689 higher education students across 14 countries were eventually used for the analysis. Most of these studies had average to high methodological quality. Two barrier themes were identified from these studies, namely, poor audio verbatim from the robots, and disruption and restrictions from software and hardware of the robot. Meanwhile, three themes related to facilitators were identified, namely, greater engagement in learning, facilitation in remote learning, and knowledge enhancement. The use of robot-assisted education has been proven to improve student learning in higher education. Robot-assisted education is an alternate educational technique that can be utilized to supplement and augment ongoing teaching arrangements. Future studies should examine a specific type of robot in a comparable learning environment.

Conceptualising food banking in the UK: A mixed studies systematic review and directed content analysis

Conceptualising food banking in the UK: A mixed studies systematic review and directed content analysis