Effects of multi-component parenting and parental mental health interventions on early childhood development and parent outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Interventions supporting parents of young children often target parenting or parental mental health separately. Multi-component parenting and parental mental health interventions have the potential to improve parenting practices, mental health, and early childhood development. We aimed to examine their impact on child and parent outcomes. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Global Health Database from inception to Jan 23, 2024. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials of interventions explicitly targeting parenting behaviours and parental mental health antenatally or in children's first 3 years of life. Screening, extraction, and quality assessment were done independently by two authors. Primary outcomes were cognitive and social-emotional functioning in children and depressive symptoms in parents, meta-analysed as standardised mean differences (SMDs), relative to control. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022302848. FINDINGS: We found 5843 records. After screening 2636 (45·1%) titles and abstracts, we manually identified and screened three additional articles and excluded 2177 records. After screening 462 full-length articles, 25 articles, representing a sample size of 8520 children and caregivers, were included. At baseline, mean caregiver age was 27·7 years (SD 5·9) and mean child age (excluding those enrolled during pregnancy) was 14·4 months (8·0). Interventions lasted a mean of 14 months (SD 11) and used a mean of 3·7 behaviour change techniques (2·0). Most interventions dedicated more time to parenting behaviours than to parental mental health. We found significant intervention effects on children's cognitive (SMD 0·19 [95% CI 0·04 to 0·34]; I2=69%) and social-emotional (0·26 [0·17 to 0·34]; I2=47%) outcomes but not on depressive symptoms in female caregivers (-0·18 [-0·36 to 0·002]; I2=86%) relative to control conditions. Risk of bias across studies was moderate, and we found heterogeneity across results. INTERPRETATION: Multi-component parenting and mental health interventions had a positive effect on child cognitive and social-emotional outcomes, but not on depressive symptoms in parents, suggesting that other factors might contribute to positive ECD outcomes. Interventions might lack adequate focus on mental health to make a discernible impact, highlighting a need for future studies to differentiate and assess contributions of parenting and mental health components to understand independent and collective effects on family outcomes. FUNDING: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Community emergency medical services approaches to fall prevention: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults in the USA. Current approaches to fall prevention often rely on referral by primary care providers or enrolment during inpatient admissions. Community emergency medical services (CEMS) present a unique opportunity to rapidly identify older adults at risk for falls and provide fall prevention interventions in the home. In this systematic review, we seek to assess the efficacy and qualitative factors determining success of these programs. METHODS: Studies reporting the outcomes of fall prevention interventions delivered by EMS were identified by searching the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through 11 July 2023. RESULTS: 35 studies including randomised and non-randomised experimental trials, systematic reviews and qualitative research primarily from Western Europe, the USA, Australia and Canada were included in our analysis. Current fall prevention efforts focus heavily on postfall referral of at-risk community members. CEMS fall prevention interventions reduced all-cause and fall-related emergency department encounters, subsequent falls and EMS calls for lift assist. These interventions also improved patient health-related quality of life, independence with activities of daily living, and secondary health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: CEMS programmes provide an opportunity for direct, proactive fall prevention on the individual level. Addressing barriers to implementation in the context of current emergency medical systems in the USA is the next step toward widespread implementation of these novel fall prevention interventions.

Examining nonmilitary and nongovernmental humanitarian surgical capacity and response in armed conflicts: A scoping review of the recent literature.

BACKGROUND: Armed conflicts pose a burden on health care services. We sought to assess the surgical capacity and responses of nonmilitary and nongovernmental humanitarian responders in armed conflicts through proxy indicators to identify strategies to address surgical needs. METHODS: We searched 6 databases for articles/studies from January 1, 2013, to March 10, 2023. We included articles detailing the surgical capacity of nonmilitary, nongovernmental organizations operating in armed conflicts. We defined surgical capacity through indicators including the type and number of surgical procedures; number of operating rooms, surgical beds, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and surgical equipment; and type of anesthesia employed. RESULTS: We screened 2,187 abstracts and 279 full texts and included 30 articles/studies. Our sample covered 23 countries and 17 surgical specialties. Most publications focused on surgical capacity assessment (63.3%, 19/30) and surgical and clinical outcomes (63.3%, 19/30). Most articles/studies reported surgical capacity indicators at the hospital (56.7%, 17/30) and multinational (26.7%, 8/30) levels. The number (86.7%, 26/30) and type (76.7%, 23/30) of surgical procedures performed were the most commonly reported. More than one half of the articles (53.3%, 16/30) described strategies to meet surgical needs in armed conflicts. Most strategies addressed information management (68.8%, 11/16), health workforce (62.5%, 10/16), and service delivery (62.5%, 10/16). CONCLUSION: This review collated common approaches for strengthening health care services in armed conflicts. Several articles emphasized strategies for improving information management, service delivery, and workforce capacity. Hence, we call for standardization of response protocols and multilevel collaborations to maintain or even scale up surgical capacity in armed conflicts.

Is a Picture Worth a Thousand Words? A Scoping Review of the Impact of Visual Aids on Patients Undergoing Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: While graphics are commonly used by clinicians to communicate information to patients, the impact of using visual media on surgical patients is not understood. This review seeks to understand the current landscape of research analyzing impact of using visual aids to communicate with patients undergoing surgery, as well as gaps in the present literature. DESIGN: A comprehensive literature search was performed across 4 databases. Search terms included: visual aids, diagrams, graphics, surgery, patient education, informed consent, and decision making. Inclusion criteria were (i) full-text, peer-reviewed articles in English; (ii) evaluation of a nonelectronic visual aid(s); and (iii) surgical patient population. RESULTS: There were 1402 articles identified; 21 met study criteria. Fifteen were randomized control trials and 6 were prospective cohort studies. Visual media assessed comprised of diagrams as informed consent adjuncts (n = 6), graphics for shared decision-making conversations (n = 3), other preoperative educational graphics (n = 8), and postoperative educational materials (n = 4). There was statistically significant improvement in patient comprehension, with an increase in objective knowledge recall (7.8%-29.6%) using illustrated educational materials (n = 10 of 15). Other studies noted increased satisfaction (n = 4 of 6), improvement in shared decision-making (n = 2 of 4), and reduction in patient anxiety (n = 3 of 6). For behavioral outcomes, visual aids improved postoperative medication compliance (n = 2) and lowered postoperative analgesia requirements (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: The use of visual aids to enhance the surgical patient experience is promising in improving knowledge retention, satisfaction, and reducing anxiety. Future studies ought to consider visual aid format, and readability, as well as patient language, race, and healthcare literacy.

Global assessment of military and civilian trauma systems integration: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The global burden of trauma disproportionately affects low-income countries and middle-income countries (LMIC), with variability in trauma systems between countries. Military and civilian healthcare systems have a shared interest in building trauma capacity for use during peace and war. However, in LMICs it is largely unknown if and how these entities work together. Understanding the successful integration of these systems can inform partnerships that can strengthen trauma care. This scoping review aims to identify examples of military-civilian trauma systems integration and describe the methods, domains, and indicators associated with integration including barriers and facilitators. METHODS: A scoping review of all appropriate databases was performed to identify papers with evidence of military and civilian trauma systems integration. After manuscripts were selected for inclusion, relevant data was extracted and coded into methods of integration, domains of integration, and collected information regarding indicators of integration, which were further categorized into facilitators or barriers. RESULTS: Seventy-four studies were included with authors from 18 countries describing experiences in 23 countries. There was a predominance of authorship and experiences from High-Income Countries (91.9 and 75.7%, respectively). Five key domains of integration were identified; Academic Integration was the most common (45.9%). Among indicators, the most common facilitator was administrative support and the lack of this was the most common barrier. The most common method of integration was Collaboration (50%). CONCLUSION: Current evidence demonstrates the existence of military and civilian trauma systems integration in several countries. High-income country data dominates the literature, and thus a more robust understanding of trauma systems integration, inclusive of all geographic locations and income statuses, is necessary prior to development of a framework to guide integration. Nonetheless, the facilitators identified in this study describe the factors and environment in which integration is feasible and highlight optimal indicators of entry.

American College of Rheumatology White Paper: The Effects of Climate Change on Rheumatic Conditions-An Evolving Landscape and a Path Forward.

OBJECTIVE: Increases in global temperatures and extreme weather events associated with climate change have complex yet poorly understood detrimental impacts on human health. We reviewed the current published literature on climate change-related effects and rheumatic conditions. METHODS: To summarize our current understanding of the likely effects of climate change, including increased air pollution, on rheumatic disease, we searched the published, peer-reviewed English-language literature from January 2000 to December 2022. Articles were reviewed by a team of rheumatologists and clinical and translational science researchers. Systematic review articles were not included but informed additional literature searches. RESULTS: After extensive examination and adjudication, 88 articles met inclusion criteria and were selected for review. Much of the epidemiologic investigations assessed associations between air pollution and increased risk of development of rheumatoid arthritis, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, flares of gout, and hospitalizations for systemic lupus erythematosus. Increased heat vulnerability was associated with higher odds of recurrent hospitalizations across rheumatic conditions. Mechanisms for observed associations are poorly understood but could include the effects of epigenetic changes, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines. Studies had limitations, including restricted geography and populations studied without focus on historically marginalized communities at highest risk for adverse effects from pollution and climate change, the relative lack of mechanistic evaluations, and most with only indirect links to climate change. CONCLUSION: To date, the published literature lacks studies that directly examine effects of climate change on rheumatic diseases. Collaborative translational and epidemiologic research is needed to enhance our understanding and awareness in this area.

The association between maternal prenatal hair cortisol concentration and preterm birth: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The risk of preterm birth (PTB) increases when experiencing stress during pregnancy. Chronic stress has been associated with a dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, for which hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a promising biomarker. However, previous studies on the association between HCC and PTB yielded inconsistent results. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized previous studies on the association between maternal HCC before and during pregnancy and spontaneous PTB. METHODS: Data was extracted from N = 11 studies with k = 19 effect sizes retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and citation searching by hand in June 2023 and updated in October 2023. Standardized mean differences were calculated, and a random-effects three-level meta-analysis was conducted. Effect heterogeneity was assessed using Q and I2. RESULTS: HCC during pregnancy was higher among PTB than term groups, but effects were not statistically significant (z = 0.11, 95% CI: - 0.28, 0.51, p = .54) and total heterogeneity was high (Q16 = 60.01, p < .001, I2Total = 92.30%). After leaving out two possible outlier studies in sensitivity analyses, HCC was lower among preterm compared to term delivering groups, although not statistically significant (z = - 0.06, 95% CI: - 0.20, 0.08, p = .39) but with a substantially reduced total heterogeneity (Q12 = 16.45, p = .17, I2Total = 42.15%). No moderators affected the estimates significantly, but an effect of trimester and gestational age at delivery is likely. CONCLUSION: There is currently no evidence of prenatal HCC differences between PTB and term groups as effects were small, imprecise, and not significant. Low statistical power and methodological weaknesses of the small-scale studies challenge possible biological inferences from the small effects, but further research on HCC during pregnancy is highly encouraged.

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy-European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guideline on primary endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies for adults with obesity.

This joint ASGE-ESGE guideline provides an evidence-based summary and recommendations regarding the role of endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies (EBMTs) in the management of obesity. The document was developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. It evaluates the efficacy and safety of EBMT devices and procedures that currently have CE mark or FDA-clearance/approval, or that had been approved within five years of document development. The guideline suggests the use of EBMTs plus lifestyle modification in patients with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2, or with a BMI of 27.0-29.9 kg/m2 with at least 1 obesity-related comorbidity. Furthermore, it suggests the utilization of intragastric balloons and devices for endoscopic gastric remodeling (EGR) in conjunction with lifestyle modification for this patient population.

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy-European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guideline on primary endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies for adults with obesity.

This joint ASGE-ESGE guideline provides an evidence-based summary and recommendations regarding the role of endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies (EBMTs) in the management of obesity. The document was developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. It evaluates the efficacy and safety of EBMT devices and procedures that currently have CE mark or FDA-clearance/approval, or that had been approved within five years of document development. The guideline suggests the use of EBMTs plus lifestyle modification in patients with a BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2, or with a BMI of 27.0-29.9 kg/m2 with at least 1 obesity-related comorbidity. Furthermore, it suggests the utilization of intragastric balloons and devices for endoscopic gastric remodeling (EGR) in conjunction with lifestyle modification for this patient population.

Use of patient-reported outcome measures after breast reconstruction in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly administered in high-income countries to monitor health-related quality of life of breast cancer patients undergoing breast reconstruction. Although low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face a disproportionate burden of breast cancer, little is known about the use of PROMs in LMICs. This scoping review aims to examine the use of PROMs after post-mastectomy breast reconstruction among patients with breast cancer in LMICs. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched in August 2022 for English-language studies using PROMs after breast reconstruction among patients with breast cancer in LMICs. Study screening and data extraction were completed. Data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: The search produced 1024 unique studies, 33 of which met inclusion criteria. Most were observational (48.5%) or retrospective (33.3%) studies. Studies were conducted in only 10 LMICs, with 60.5% in China and Brazil and none in low-income countries. Most were conducted in urban settings (84.8%) and outpatient clinics (57.6%), with 63.6% incorporating breast-specific PROMs and 33.3% including breast reconstruction-specific PROMs. Less than half (45.5%) used PROMs explicitly validated for their populations of interest. Only 21.2% reported PROM response rates, ranging from 43.1 to 96.9%. Barriers and facilitators of PROM use were infrequently noted. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the importance of PROM collection and use in providing patient-centered care, it continues to be limited in middle-income countries and is not evident in low-income countries after breast reconstruction. Further research is necessary to determine effective methods to address the challenges of PROM use in LMICs.

The Association of a Peritoneal Interposition Flap With Lymphocele Formation After Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection During Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association of a peritoneal interposition flap (PIF) with lymphocele formation following robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) with pelvic lymph node dissection. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through August 30, 2023, to identify randomized and nonrandomized studies comparing RALP with pelvic lymph node dissection with and without PIF. A random effects meta-analysis was then performed to evaluate the associations of PIF with 90-day postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and four observational studies, including a total of 2941 patients, were included. The use of PIF was associated with a reduced risk of 90-day symptomatic lymphocele formation after RALP when examining only RCTs (pooled odds ratios [OR] 0.44, 95% CI 0.28-0.69; I2 =3%) and both RCTs and observational studies (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.22-0.56; I2 =17%). Similarly, use of PIF was associated with a reduced risk of 90-day any lymphocele formation (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.28-0.56, I2 =39%). There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complications between the two groups (OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.69-1.14; I2 =20%). CONCLUSION: Use of the PIF is associated with an approximately 50% reduced risk of symptomatic and any lymphocele formation within 90-days of surgery, and it is not associated with an increase in postoperative complications.

United States-Based Colorectal Cancer Surgical Trials Lack Representation and Adequate Reporting of Racially and Ethnically Diverse Participants: Systematic Review and Regression Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite the established National Institute of Health Revitalization Act, which aims to include ethnic and racial minority representation in surgical trials, racial and ethnic enrollment disparities persist. OBJECTIVE: To assess the proportion of patients from minority races and ethnicities that are included in colorectal cancer surgical trials and reporting characteristics. DATA SOURCES: Search was performed using MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central. STUDY SELECTION: Inclusion criteria included 1) trials performed in the United States between January 1, 2000, and May 30, 2022; 2) patients with colorectal cancer diagnosis; and 3) surgical intervention, technique, or postoperative outcome. Trials evaluating chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other nonsurgical interventions were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Pooled proportion and regression analysis was performed to identify the proportion of patients by race and ethnicity included in surgical trials and the association of year of publication and funding source. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of trials reporting race and ethnicity and proportion of participants by race and ethnicity included in surgical trials. RESULTS: We screened 10,673 unique publications, of which 80 were examined in full text. Fifteen studies met our inclusion criteria. Ten (66.7%) trials did not report race, 3 reported races as a proportion of White participants only, and 3 reported 3 or more races. There was no description of ethnicity in 11 (73.3%) trials, with 2 describing "non-Caucasian" as ethnicity and 2 describing only Hispanic ethnicity. Pooled proportion of White participants was 81.3%, of Black participants was 6.2%, of Asian participants was 3.6%, and of Hispanic participants was 3.5%. LIMITATIONS: A small number of studies was identified that reported racial or ethnic characteristics of their participants. CONCLUSIONS: Both race and ethnicity are severely underreported in colorectal cancer surgical trials. To improve outcomes and ensure the inclusion of vulnerable populations in innovative technologies and novel treatments, reporting must be closely monitored.

Imaging and Biomarker Surveillance for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and American Radium Society Appropriate Use Criteria Statement.

Surveillance for survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) is focused on early detection of recurrent or second primary malignancies. After initial restaging confirms disease-free status, the use of surveillance imaging for asymptomatic patients with HNC is controversial. Our objective was to comprehensively review literature pertaining to imaging and biomarker surveillance of asymptomatic patients treated for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and to convene a multidisciplinary expert panel to provide appropriate use criteria for surveillance in representative clinical scenarios. The evidence base for the appropriate use criteria was gathered through a librarian-mediated search of literature published from 1990 to 2022 focused on surveillance imaging and circulating tumor-specific DNA for nonmetastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The systematic review was reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Using the modified Delphi process, the expert panel voted on appropriate use criteria, providing recommendations for appropriate use of surveillance imaging and human papillomavirus (HPV) circulating tumor DNA. Of 5178 studies identified, 80 met inclusion criteria (5 meta-analyses/systematic reviews, 1 randomized control trial, 1 post hoc analysis, 25 prospective, and 48 retrospective cohort studies [with ≥50 patients]), reporting on 27,525 patients. No large, randomized, prospective trials examined whether asymptomatic patients who receive surveillance imaging or HPV circulating tumor DNA monitoring benefit from earlier detection of recurrence or second primary tumors in terms of disease-specific or quality-of-life outcomes. In the absence of prospective data, surveillance imaging for HNC survivors should rely on individualized recurrence-risk assessment accounting for initial disease staging, HPV disease status, and tobacco use history. There is an emerging surveillance role for circulating tumor biomarkers.

Incidence of emergence agitation in children undergoing sevoflurane anesthesia compared to isoflurane anesthesia: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation is a complex syndrome of altered consciousness after emergence from anesthesia. It can result in injury to patients and staff and is associated with other postoperative complications. Sevoflurane has been associated with emergence agitation, potentially due to low tissue solubility and therefore speed of emergence. Prior meta-analyses comparing emergence agitation incidence between sevoflurane and isoflurane anesthetics did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference. Given the publication of additional relevant studies not included in prior meta-analyses as well as improved diagnosis of emergence agitation, we aim to perform an updated, comprehensive meta-analysis comparing emergence agitation incidence between sevoflurane and isoflurane anesthetics in children. METHODS: We conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials comparing sevoflurane to isoflurane in children <18 years of age, reporting emergence agitation as an outcome, published before July 2023 using databases and registers. Our primary outcome was the incidence of emergence agitation. Secondary outcomes were time to extubation, awakening time, and length of stay in the postanesthetic care unit. We assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool version 2. We pooled the effect size for the outcomes using the fixed effects model if we had low heterogeneity, otherwise, we used a random-effects model. RESULTS: Eight randomized controlled trials (523 children) were included in the final analysis. The incidence of emergence agitation after isoflurane was significantly lower compared to sevoflurane (risk ratio: 0.62 (95% CI: [0.46-0.83]; I2 = 40.01%, p < .001)). Time to extubation, awakening times, and postanesthetic care unit duration were not significantly different. The protective effect of isoflurane compared to sevoflurane remained significant in subgroups of patients who received premedication or intraoperative systemic analgesics (risk ratios: (0.48 [0.28-0.82]; I2 = 60.78%, p = .01), (0.52 [0.37-0.75]; I2 = 0.00%, p < .001), respectively). CONCLUSION: The risk of emergence agitation in children after maintenance anesthesia with sevoflurane is significantly greater than with isoflurane; we did not find evidence of prolonged emergence or postanesthetic length of stay. When possible, isoflurane should be considered for maintenance anesthesia over sevoflurane in patients at high risk of emergence agitation.

Behavioral Interventions on Surgeons' Preoperative Decision-Making: A Scoping Review and Critical Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Consensus is lacking regarding the optimal strategy to influence surgeons' behaviors to reduce low-value surgical care. Comprehensively describing the existing body of literature that seeks to intervene on surgeons' preoperative decision-making may aid in structuring future behavior change strategies. METHODS: We performed a scoping review using four databases (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Embase, Web of Science, and Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) for articles that tested the effect of behavioral-based interventions on any aspect of surgeons' decision-making in the preoperative setting. Abstracted data were characterized by summative descriptions and analyzed using the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Disease framework, mapping aspects of deimplementation strategies in the studies onto the determinant(s) that they altered. Data abstraction and mapping tools were piloted and iteratively revised before two researchers independently assessing studies and categorizing determinants, and then meeting to discuss their decisions. RESULTS: There were 1460 articles identified from the initial search, with 17 full text articles ultimately included in the scoping review. Eight studies relied on a multidisciplinary preoperative conference to accomplish their aims, while five were multifaceted in their approach to deimplementation, and four studies used only a clinical decision support tool to accomplish their aims. Mapping determinants addressed in these studies onto the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Disease framework demonstrated that most strategies attempted to close knowledge gaps, leverage communication between providers, and broadcast institutional prioritization of change. CONCLUSIONS: There is a small but growing field of implementation and deimplementation strategies in preoperative surgical decision-making, and different approaches may be equally effective in varied clinical contexts. Deliberate measurement and comparison of outcomes, as well as selection of control groups, are areas for improvement in future work.

Factors Contributing to Resilience Among First Generation Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: We aimed at 1) collating and evaluating the current evidence on factors contributing to resilience of adult transnational migrants, 2) identifying methodological factors which contribute to the findings, 3) identifying and analyzing promotive and preventive factors contributing to the findings. Methods: A systematic search for relevant studies published until 2021 was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, PTSDPubs, and Web of Science. Both, quantitative and qualitative peer-reviewed observational studies reporting on resilience and wellbeing, sense of coherence, or post-traumatic growth outcomes among transnational migrants (aged 18+). Risk of Bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program for qualitative studies and the Appraisal Tool for cross-sectional studies. Due to the heterogeneity of studies we did a narrative review. Results: Database search yielded 3,756 unique records, of those n = 80 records, representing n = 76 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies provided knowledge on resilience for n = 9,845 transnational migrants across 23 countries. All studies except two were cross sectional. N = 45 reported on resilience, n = 4 on Sense of Coherence and n = 15 on Post-Traumatic Growth. The study methods were not related to the findings. Future orientation, hope and religion/spirituality, caring for others and having opportunities were shown to be more pertinent to resilience outcomes than institutional care structures. Conclusion: Our findings highlight that mental health professionals and policymakers should try to support positive perspectives for the future and encourage policies tailored towards giving refugees opportunities to work, learn and care and to help others.

Authorship Patterns in the Orthopaedic Journals of Low-Income and Lower-Middle-Income Countries.

Background: Extensive research collaborations exist between researchers from high-income countries (HICs) and those from low-income countries (LICs) and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). Previous research has suggested that authors from LICs and LMICs are underrepresented as first and last authors in the orthopaedic literature on local populations, particularly in LICs. We present a bibliometric analysis of authorship solely in studies published in orthopaedic journals that are based in LICs and LMICs. Methods: The Global Index Medicus was queried, and all articles published from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2021, in journals with a focus on orthopaedic surgery that were based in an LIC or an LMIC were included. Logistic regressions were calculated to assess the predictors of local authorship. Results: Over 92% of studies included in our analysis had first or last authors from LICs or LMICs. In terms of study type, the majority (89%) of studies were clinical, although largely of low-level evidence (78% of clinical studies were case reports, case series, or descriptive studies). None received funding. LIC or LMIC first authorship and last authorship were less likely for most types of nonclinical studies. LIC or LMIC first authorship was more likely when there were more study authors. LIC or LMIC first authorship and last authorship were less likely when there were more countries affiliated with the study authors. Finally, when compared with studies with only LIC or LMIC authors, those with a combination of HIC and LIC or LMIC authors had significantly lower rates of LIC or LMIC first authorship (93.3% versus 62.5%) and last authorship (97.7% versus 70.8%). Conclusions: Our study presents one of the first analyses to assess authorship patterns in the orthopaedic literature of locally published journals in LICs and LMICs. Future studies are needed to contextualize our findings within a broader bibliometric landscape in order to better address the ongoing challenges to building research capacity in LICs and LMICs. Clinical Relevance: Our study highlights important observations regarding authorship in international, collaborative research in orthopaedics.

The impact of neck pain on gait health: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence exists demonstrating the negative impacts of chronic musculoskeletal pain on key measures of gait. Despite neck pain being the second most common musculoskeletal pain condition, there is a paucity of evidence exploring the impacts of neck pain specifically on these outcomes. The aims of this work were to systematically review the current evidence of the associations between chronic neck pain and measures of gait health and to conduct meta-analysis for quantitative assessment of the effect sizes under different walking conditions. METHODS: Systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Databases searched included MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PEDro. Eligible study designs included observational studies consisting of an exposure group with chronic neck pain and control group without chronic neck pain and primary outcomes relating to gait health. For outcomes amenable to meta-analysis, a random-effects model was used to derive summary estimates of Hedge's g depicted graphically with forest plots. Other gait outcomes were narratively summarized. Risk of bias was also assessed. RESULTS: The original search yielded 1918 articles; 12 met final eligibility criteria including 10 cross-sectional studies. Outcomes were grouped first by the five domains of gait: pace, rhythm, asymmetry, variability, and postural control; and second by the tested walking conditions. Meta-analyses for gait speed revealed large effect-sizes indicating that individuals with chronic neck pain had slower measures of gait and lower measures of cadence. Gait outcomes that were narratively summarized supported these findings. CONCLUSION: The quantitative and qualitative findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest a negative impact of CNNP on measures of gait health, particularly gait speed, under various walking conditions. However, broad interpretation of these results should be cautious. Testing gait under dual task conditions may be particularly sensitive to the impact of CNNP, and future work is needed to better understand how pain disrupts this important functionality of the locomotor system. Additionally, consideration should be made to assess measures of variability and investigate these relationships in the older adult population.

External ventricular drains and risk of freehand placement: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: External ventricular drains (EVDs) are used to monitor and treat elevated intracranial pressure. EVDs are often placed blindly without the use of imaging guidance, and successful placement with respect to pass attempts and final catheter location may suffer as a result of this freehand technique. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases to identify studies pertaining to freehand EVD placement through March 30, 2022. Studies were included if they reported percentage of EVDs placed successfully on the first pass attempt, or final catheter location as defined by the Kakarla Grading System. Pooled weighted incidence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using a random effects model. RESULTS: Of the 2964 results returned from the literature search, 39 studies were included in this meta-analysis. These studies reported on 6313 EVDs placed via freehand technique in 6070 patients with the following respective incidence: successful EVD placement on the first attempt (78%, 95%CI: 67-86%); placement with a Kakarla Grade of 1 (optimal location) (72%, 95%CI: 66-77%); hemorrhage (7%, 95%CI: 6-10%), and infection (5%, 95%CI: 3-8%). CONCLUSIONS: Only 78% of EVDs in this meta-analysis were placed successfully on the first pass, and only 72% of final placements were deemed optimal. This represents a relatively high rate of suboptimal outcomes with respect to EVD placement, which could potentially be avoided with the use of navigation-assisted placement techniques.

Bias in Surgical Residency Evaluations: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: Given widespread disparities in the surgical workforce and the advent of competency-based training models that rely on objective evaluations of resident performance, this review aims to describe the landscape of bias in the evaluation methods of residents in surgical training programs in the United States. DESIGN: A scoping review was conducted within PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and ERIC in May 2022, without a date restriction. Studies were screened and reviewed in duplicate by 3 reviewers. Data were described descriptively. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: English-language studies conducted in the United States that assessed bias in the evaluation of surgical residents were included. RESULTS: The search yielded 1641 studies, of which 53 met inclusion criteria. Of the included studies, 26 (49.1%) were retrospective cohort studies, 25 (47.2%) were cross-sectional studies, and 2 (3.8%) were prospective cohort studies. The majority included general surgery residents (n = 30, 56.6%) and nonstandardized examination modalities (n = 38, 71.7%), such as video-based skills evaluations (n = 5, 13.2%). The most common performance metric evaluated was operative skill (n = 22, 41.5%). Overall, the majority of studies demonstrated bias (n = 38, 73.6%) and most investigated gender bias (n = 46, 86.8%). Most studies reported disadvantages for female trainees regarding standardized examinations (80.0%), self-evaluations (73.7%), and program-level evaluations (71.4%). Four studies (7.6%) assessed racial bias, of which all reported disadvantages for trainees underrepresented in surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation methods for surgery residents may be prone to bias, particularly with regard to female trainees. Research is warranted regarding other implicit and explicit biases, such as racial bias, as well as for nongeneral surgery subspecialties.