Systematic Review Of Evidence Research Articles

Cold city outdoor space utilisation patterns and constraints: A systematic review of empirical evidence

Urban outdoor spaces, as significant venues for outdoor activities, are closely linked to urban residents' quality of life and physical health. However, evidence suggests that prolonged and cold winters in cold cities, characterised by low temperatures, ice and snow, and frigid winds, profoundly impact residents' engagement in outdoor activities. Understanding the patterns of residents' utilisation of outdoor spaces and the constraints they face in the cold urban environment is crucial. Despite this, there is currently a lack of systematic reviews synthesizing evidence. This study conducts a systematic literature review from the social ecology perspective, organizing relevant evidence on residents' usage patterns, constraints, and preferences for outdoor spaces in cold urban environments. The literature review spans studies published from 2000 to 2023, drawing data from six electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. Ultimately, 31 articles (N = 31) were included in the review. The findings indicate that outdoor spaces in cold urban areas are influenced by a range of factors, encompassing individual, social, physical, and perceptual environmental attributes. Consequently, a conceptual framework based on social ecology is developed to comprehend the usage and constraints of outdoor spaces in cold urban environments. This research provides valuable insights for urban planners and designers in designing and planning outdoor spaces in cold cities.

Ghanaian Institutions and Supply Chain Management Practices: A Systematic Review of Evidence

Ghanaian Institutions and Supply Chain Management Practices: A Systematic Review of Evidence

Physical Activity Interventions in People with Diabetes: A Systematic Review of The Qualitative Evidence.

The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the results of qualitative research into people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and their propensity to engage in physical activity (PA), and to identify and analyse their experiences and opinions of interventions and programs designed to increase their adherence to PA recommendations. Systematic review of qualitative studies extracted from databases using the SPIDER systematic search method. The review included studies that combined qualitative and mixed methods research and compiled the experiences and opinions of people with T2DM who had participated in interventions to increase their levels of PA. A thematic summary of qualitative data was performed. The review comprised nine studies published between 2017 and 2021, which included 170 people. Four themes and ten subthemes were identified. The four themes include: (1) factors related to PA, (2) factors related to the program, (3) factors related to the support the participants received and (4) factors related to the person. The support patients receive, both from family/friends and from health providers, is key to consolidating changes in habits and in promoting individualized health education. Future interventions and health policies should reinforce programs designed to promote PA that prioritize the experiences of people in order to increase their adherence to PA programs.

Metabolic surgery as an intervention for the global epidemic of uncontrolled diabetes: a systematic review of the current evidence and future directions

Metabolic surgery as an intervention for the global epidemic of uncontrolled diabetes: a systematic review of the current evidence and future directions

The impact of Ashtanga yoga on stress management and mental well-being: A systematic review of recent evidence

The impact of Ashtanga yoga on stress management and mental well-being: A systematic review of recent evidence

World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies Clinical Practice Guideline on Acupuncture-Moxibustion: Non-Specific Low Back Pain recommendation summaries: 世界针灸学会联合会《针灸临床实践指南:非特异性腰痛》推荐意见概述

Clinical Practice Guideline on Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Nonspecific low back pain was revised and released by the Standards Working Committee of World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) on October 9, 2023. This is the first clinical practice guideline (CPG) on acupuncture and moxibustion for nonspecific low back pain approved by an international academic organization, which provides the evidence-based recommendations and practical therapeutic protocols for international acupuncture practitioners. This CPG was developed by following Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, and the Principles of the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development. The guideline development group (GDG) from different countries, with different professions, played a critical role in the formulation of clinical questions, recommendations, and therapeutic protocols. Recommendations are the key content of a CPG and the direct answers to clinical questions. Hence, this article focuses on the recommendations of this CPG. The recommendations were formulated using the modified Delphi method and the GRADE grid rules, based on the updated systematic reviews of clinical evidence. A total of seven recommendations for ten clinical questions were formulated in this CPG, including one conditional recommendation for either the intervention or the comparison based on very low quality of evidence, and six conditional recommendations for the intervention based on very low quality of evidence.

Experiences of patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy, or Krabbe disease and the experiences of their family members: a qualitative systematic review.

This review aimed to synthesize the experiences of patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy, or Krabbe disease and the experiences of their families. Leukodystrophies are metabolic diseases caused by genetic mutations. There are multiple forms of the disease, varying in age of onset and symptoms. The progression of leukodystrophies worsens central nervous system symptoms and significantly affects the lives of patients and their families. Qualitative studies on the experiences of patients with leukodystrophies and their family members were included. These experiences included treatments such as enzyme replacement therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; effects of tracheostomy and gastrostomy; burdens on the family, coordinating care within the health care system, and family planning due to genetic disorders. This review considered studies in any setting. MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL Plus (EBSCOhost), APA PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), Scopus, and MedNar databases were searched on November 18, 2022. Study selection, critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis were conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence, and synthesized findings were evaluated according to the ConQual approach. Eleven studies were eligible for synthesis, and 45 findings were extracted corresponding with participants' voices. Of these findings, 40 were unequivocal and 5 were credible. The diseases in the included studies were metachromatic leukodystrophy and adrenoleukodystrophy; no studies were identified for patients with Krabbe disease and their families. These findings were grouped into 11 categories and integrated into 3 synthesized findings, including i) providing care by family members and health care providers as physical symptoms progress, which relates to the effects of the characteristics of progressive leukodystrophies; ii) building medical teamwork to provide appropriate support services, comprising categories related to the challenges experienced with the health care system for patients with leukodystrophy and their families; and iii) coordinating family functions to accept and cope with the disease, which included categories related to family psychological difficulties and role divisions within the family. According to the ConQual criteria, the second synthesized finding had a low confidence level, and the first and third synthesized findings had a very low confidence level. The synthesized findings of this review provide evidence on the experiences of patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy or adrenoleukodystrophy and their families. These findings indicate that there are challenges in managing a patient's physical condition and coordinating the health care system and family functions. PROSPERO CRD42022318805. A Japanese-language version of the abstract of this review is available [ http://links.lww.com/SRX/A49 ].

Analysis of Factors Affecting Unemployment: A Systematic Literature Review of Evidence From Ethiopia

Analysis of Factors Affecting Unemployment: A Systematic Literature Review of Evidence From Ethiopia

'Throw me a life buoy, please': A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence regarding nurses' experiences of caring for inpatients with borderline personality disorder and/or non-suicidal self-injury.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent in individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), particularly in inpatient settings. This poses challenges, leading to frustration and powerlessness among healthcare professionals. This, in turn, puts mental health nurses at risk of compassion fatigue (CF), impacting treatment quality. We conducted a systematic review and meta-synthesis to investigate the experiences of mental health nurses caring for people with BPD and/or NSSI in inpatient settings. Literature search was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Web of Science. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to critically appraise each study. For synthesis of findings from original studies, Thomas and Harden's thematic synthesis was used. In total 1492 studies were screened of which seven met the inclusion criteria. We identified four main analytical themes: 'Notions on nursing', 'Reality calls', 'Fall of ideals' and 'Throw me a lifebuoy, please', with each two subthemes included. Despite nurses' strong motivations for positive change and assistance, unexpected demands lead to emotional exhaustion, affecting their care provision. The study underscores the necessity of addressing nurses' emotional strain through education and skill-oriented training, enhancing their resilience and reducing CF risk, ultimately securing adequate care, and improving patient outcomes.

Does Long-term Surveillance Imaging Improve Survival in Patients Treated for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma? A Systematic Review of the Current Evidence.

Long-term post-treatment surveillance imaging algorithms for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are not standardized due to debates over optimal surveillance strategy and efficacy. Consequently, current guidelines do not provide long-term surveillance imaging recommendations beyond 6 months. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the impact of long-term imaging surveillance (i.e., imaging beyond 6 months following treatment completion) on survival in patients treated definitively for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. A search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science for English literature published between 2003 and 2024 evaluating the impact of long-term surveillance imaging on survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. 718 abstracts were screened and 95 underwent full-text review, with 2 articles meeting inclusion criteria. The Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions assessment tool was used. A qualitative assessment without a pooled analysis was performed for the two studies meeting inclusion criteria. No randomized prospective controlled trials were identified. Two retrospective two-arm studies were included comparing long-term surveillance imaging with clinical surveillance and were each rated as having moderate risk of bias. Each study included heterogeneous populations with variable risk profiles and imaging surveillance protocols. Both studies investigated the impact of long-term surveillance imaging on overall survival and came to a different conclusion with one study reporting a survival benefit for long-term surveillance imaging with FDG PET/CT in patients with stage III or IV disease or an oropharyngeal primary tumor and the other study demonstrating no survival benefit. Limited heterogeneous retrospective data available precludes definitive conclusions on the impact of long-term surveillance imaging in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. There is insufficient quality evidence regarding the impact of long-term surveillance imaging on survival in patients treated definitively for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. There is a lack of standardized definition of long-term surveillance, variable surveillance protocols, and inconsistencies in results reporting, underscoring the need for a prospective multi-center registry assessing outcomes. HNSCC = Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; RT= radiotherapy; NCCN = National Comprehensive Cancer Network; MPC = metachronous primary cancer; CR = complete response; OS = overall survival; CRT = chemoradiotherapy; HPV = human papillomavirus; PFS = progression-free survival; CFU = clinical follow up; NI-RADS = Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System.

The impact of cardiovascular events in bronchiectasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by airway and systemic inflammation with prevalence increasing with age. Given the median age of the patients, it is common to observe the presence of comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular diseases, which have been linked to adverse clinical outcomes. To investigate the pooled estimates of the association between bronchiectasis and coronary heart disease or stroke within this population, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available scientific evidence. Three investigators independently performed the search on PubMed and other sources and included studies published up to October 2023 according to predefined criteria. Relative measures of association between bronchiectasis and cardiovascular events were pooled and meta-analysed using a fixed-effects model. Studies were evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for assessing the quality of non-randomised studies in meta-analyses. A final pool of nine studies was included in the systematic review, with a total of 22 239 patients. Meta-analysis of three high-quality cohort studies showed a pooled hazard ratio of 1.42 (95% CI 1.30-1.57) for coronary heart disease and 1.71 (95% CI 1.55-1.89) for cerebrovascular stroke. The increased cardiovascular risk among people with bronchiectasis underscores the critical need to raise awareness of this association and to develop preventive strategies accordingly. Further translational studies are imperative to gain a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between inflammation, the immune system and endothelial dysfunction in this patient group.

World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) Clinical Practice Guideline on Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Allergic Rhinitis recommendation summaries: 世界针灸学会联合会《针灸临床实践指南:过敏性鼻炎》推荐意见概述

Clinical Practice Guideline on Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Allergic Rhinitis was revised and released by the Standards Working Committee of World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) on October 9, 2023. This is the first clinical practice guideline (CPG) on acupuncture and moxibustion for allergic rhinitis approved by an international academic organization, which provides evidence-based recommendations and the practical therapeutic protocols for acupuncture practitioners globally. This CPG was developed by following Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, and the principles of the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development. The members in the guideline development group (GDG) were from different countries, with different professions, and they played a critical role in the development of clinical questions, recommendations, and therapeutic protocols. Recommendations are the core of a CPG and the direct answers to clinical questions, due to which this article focuses on the recommendations of this CPG. The recommendations were developed by using the modified Delphi method and the GRADE grid rules, based on the updated systematic reviews of clinical evidence. A total of 15 recommendations for 15 clinical questions were developed in this CPG, including one strong recommendation for intervention based on high-quality evidence, three conditional recommendations for either the intervention or the comparison based on very low quality of evidence, and 11 conditional recommendations for the intervention based on very low quality of evidence.

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) in the Field of Head and Neck Surgery: Current Evidence and Prospects for the Future-A Systematic Review.

Background: Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are a class of artificial neural networks capable of generating content such as images, text, and sound. For several years already, artificial intelligence algorithms have shown promise as tools in the medical field, particularly in oncology. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) represent a new frontier of innovation, as they are revolutionizing artificial content generation, opening opportunities in artificial intelligence and deep learning. Purpose: This systematic review aims to investigate what the stage of development of such technology is in the field of head and neck surgery, offering a general overview of the applications of such algorithms, how they work, and the potential limitations to be overcome in the future. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed in conducting this study, and the PICOS framework was used to formulate the research question. The following databases were evaluated: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL. Results: Out of 700 studies, only 9 were included. Eight applications of GANs in the head and neck region were summarized, including the classification of craniosynostosis, recognition of the presence of chronic sinusitis, diagnosis of radicular cysts in panoramic X-rays, segmentation of craniomaxillofacial bones, reconstruction of bone defects, removal of metal artifacts from CT scans, prediction of the postoperative face, and improvement of the resolution of panoramic X-rays. Conclusions: Generative Adversarial Networks may represent a new evolutionary step in the study of pathology, oncological and otherwise, making the approach to the disease much more precise and personalized.

Ambient air pollution and urological cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological evidence

Exposure to ambient air pollution has significant adverse health effects; however, whether air pollution is associated with urological cancer is largely unknown. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis with epidemiological studies, showing that a 5 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure is associated with a 6%, 7%, and 9%, increased risk of overall urological, bladder, and kidney cancer, respectively; and a 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 is linked to a 3%, 4%, and 4% higher risk of overall urological, bladder, and prostate cancer, respectively. Were these associations to reflect causal relationships, lowering PM2.5 levels to 5.8 μg/m3 could reduce the age-standardized rate of urological cancer by 1.5 ~ 27/100,000 across the 15 countries with the highest PM2.5 level from the top 30 countries with the highest urological cancer burden. Implementing global health policies that can improve air quality could potentially reduce the risk of urologic cancer and alleviate its burden.

HTA48 Systematic Review and Quality Assessment of Clinical and Economic Evidence For Superabsorbent Wound Dressings in a Population with Chronic Ulcers

HTA48 Systematic Review and Quality Assessment of Clinical and Economic Evidence For Superabsorbent Wound Dressings in a Population with Chronic Ulcers

HTA40 Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir for Non-Hospitalized Adults With Mild/Moderately Severe COVID-19: A Systematic Evidence Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Real-World Studies With Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis

HTA40 Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir for Non-Hospitalized Adults With Mild/Moderately Severe COVID-19: A Systematic Evidence Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Real-World Studies With Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis

Evaluating Renal Benefits of Rivaroxaban Versus Vitamin K Antagonists in Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Real-world Evidence.

AF is a global health concern, with systemic complications including renal dysfunction. This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the effects of rivaroxaban, a Factor Xa inhibitor, and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) on renal outcomes in AF patients. The study protocol is registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023462756). We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases from 1 January 2017 to 30 June 2023 for real-world studies comparing the effects of rivaroxaban and VKAs on renal outcomes in AF patients, including acute kidney injury, a .30% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate, doubling of serum creatinine and worsening renal function. Subgroup analyses targeted diabetes, pre-existing kidney disease, the elderly (age .65 years) and Asian populations. The risk of bias was assessed used the Robins-I tool. HRs and 95% CIs were synthesised through a random-effects model. Two sensitivity analyses were performed, using a fixed-effects model and excluding conference abstracts. We identified 1,666 records. After screening, 14 studies comparing rivaroxaban and VKAs were included. Rivaroxaban exhibited superiority over VKAs in preventing: acute kidney injury (HR 0.68; 95% CI [0.61.0.77]; p<0.00001); a .30% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR 0.71; 95% CI [0.60.0.84]; p<0.0001); doubling of serum creatinine (HR 0.50; 95% CI [0.36.0.70]; p<0.0001); and worsening renal function (HR 0.56; 95% CI [0.45.0.69]; p<0.00001). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses consistently confirmed rivaroxaban's favourable effects on renal outcomes in diabetes, pre-existing kidney disease, the elderly and Asian populations. Our findings support the preference of rivaroxaban over VKAs for renal outcomes in AF. The findings endorse rivaroxaban as the preferred anticoagulant to mitigate renal complications, offering clinicians valuable insights for tailored strategies.

Cyberincivility among Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence.

The ubiquitous use of social media places adolescents at high risk for cyberincivility (disrespectful, insensitive, or disruptive online behaviors). Adolescents who experience cyberincivility can have mental health issues including depression and suicidal ideation. However, no reviews synthesized findings from qualitative studies on cyberincivility among adolescents, which was the aim of this review. Eleven articles were extracted from MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, ERIC, and Education Full Text. Study qualities were assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. A meta-ethnographic framework guided the thematic analysis. Five themes were identified: forms of cyberincivility, platforms used for cyberincivility, perceptions and understanding of cyberincivility, adverse impact on health, and perceptions of seeking support. Social media was often used for cyberincivility, and common forms of cyberincivility included impersonation, aggressive verbal behaviors, and social exclusion. Adolescents perceived cyberincivility as persistent and relentless, with severe health impacts including depression, but they hesitate to seek support. Considering the negative impact of cyberincivility on adolescents' physical and mental well-being, it is important to develop anti-cyberincivility programs in schools. Schools have opportunities to efficiently reach both perpetrators and victims of cyberincivility with anti-cyberincivility programs rooted in trust building and engagement from family, community, and peers.

The impact of educational technologies on entrepreneurial competencies: A systematic review of empirical evidence

Researchers and educators have been exploring innovative methods in entrepreneurship education to address traditional approach failure at engaging students and developing their skills. Educational technology has shown promising results in early studies. Yet, there is a scarcity of reviews on their effectiveness in developing entrepreneurial competencies. This paper systematically reviews the empirical literature on the outcomes of educational technology used to teach entrepreneurship at higher education institutions. From an initial 316 search hits, 26 articles were selected for in-depth review. The learning outcomes were translated into entrepreneurial competencies, using the EntreComp Framework as a reference. Findings show that educational technologies, in general, positively impacted entrepreneurial competencies, especially financial &amp; economic literacy, motivation &amp; perseverance, and initiative taking. Gaming and simulations were the most researched, having an overall positive influence, while online learning and MOOCs showed limited and sometimes contradictory effects. The study fills the scholarly gap by connecting educational technology, entrepreneurship education, and entrepreneurial competencies. It provides a basic mapping linking each educational technology to the competencies it develops and advocates for a competency-based pedagogy in the delivery and assessment of entrepreneurship education. Educators can apply the findings and the mapping developed in this study to design and deliver entrepreneurship courses, incorporating educational technologies more insightfully and effectively in their pedagogies.

The pediatric DAV-expert algorithm: A GAVeCeLT/GAVePed consensus for the choice of the most appropriate venous access device in children

In pediatric patients, the choice of the venous access device currently relies upon the operator’s experience and preference and on the local availability of specific resources and technologies. Though, considering the limited options for venous access in children if compared to adults, such clinical choice has a great critical relevance and should preferably be based on the best available evidence. Though some algorithms have been published over the last 5 years, none of them seems fully satisfactory and useful in clinical practice. Thus, the GAVePed—which is the pediatric interest group of the most important Italian group on venous access, GAVeCeLT—has developed a national consensus about the choice of the venous access device in children. After a systematic review of the available evidence, the panel of the consensus (which included Italian experts with documented competence in this area) has provided structured recommendations answering 10 key questions regarding the choice of venous access both in emergency and in elective situations, both in the hospitalized and in the non-hospitalized child. Only statements reaching a complete agreement were included in the final recommendations. All recommendations were also structured as a simple visual algorithm, so as to be easily translated into clinical practice.