A systematic review of the use of unannounced standardized patients (USPs) in clinical settings: A call for more detailed quality and fidelity descriptions and expansion to new areas.

BACKGROUND: Unannounced standardized patients (USPs) have long been used to measure clinical performance in situ. These incognito actors capture data on clinician skills during an encounter, as well as patient experience more broadly. A robust USP program requires extensive preparation and standardization efforts. Given the widespread expansion of USPs for education, research, and improvement efforts, we conducted a systematic review with the goal of capturing the breadth of uses of USPs across settings, along with the standardization measures employed across studies. METHODS: In collaboration with a medical librarian, we conducted systematic searches across six databases. Two independent researchers screened each report for inclusion. Three coders extracted and reviewed study characteristics and data from the studies deemed eligible for inclusion. We extracted data on: target population, setting, and assessed skills. We also captured the reliability and fidelity measures described in each study, including USP detection, USP training methods, and assessment measures. RESULTS: 128 articles were included. Individual clinicians were the most frequently targeted population (n = 114, 89 %). Common clinician roles included physicians (n = 92, 72 %) and pharmacists (n = 12, 9 %). The collective care team was the target in two studies (2 %), and systems and larger healthcare facilities were targeted in only 1 (1 %) and 13 (10 %) studies, respectively. Studies were primarily conducted in ambulatory settings (n = 118, 92 %). History gathering (n = 76, 59 %), communication (n = 55, 43 %), counseling (n = 51, 40 %), and patient education (n = 49, 38 %) were commonly assessed, as were correct diagnosis (n = 34, 27 %), appropriate ordering of labs/tests (n = 30, 23 %), referrals (n = 35, 27 %), and prescriptions (n = 36, 28 %). USP detection reporting was variable across studies; however, no detection information was provided for 48 studies. 62 % of articles reported incorporating a measure of reliability or fidelity into their study, while the remainder either failed to provide adequate information on use of these measures. CONCLUSIONS: We explored USP use across settings and describe the scope and limitations of the literature. USPs capture a range of data domains but a lack uniform report of reliability measures can potentially undermine findings. Future studies should incorporate and uniformly report out on detection, training, and assessment.

Efficacy of topical treatments for mild-to-moderate acne: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

Acne is a common skin condition, but little data exist on the comparative efficacy of topical acne therapies. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of topical therapies for mild-to-moderate acne. Searches in PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL via Ovid, Embase via Ovid and Web of Science were conducted on 29 November 2021. Randomized controlled trials examining ≥12 weeks of topical treatments for acne vulgaris in subjects aged 12 and older were included. Main outcomes were absolute or percent change in acne lesion count and treatment success on the Investigator's Global Assessment scale. Thirty-five randomized clinical trials with 33,472 participants comparing nine different topical agents were included. Adapalene-benzoyl peroxide (BPO), clindamycin-BPO and clindamycin-tretinoin demonstrated the greatest reduction in non-inflammatory (ratio of means [RoM] 1.76; 95% CI [1.46; 2.12], RoM 1.70; 95% CI [1.44; 2.02] and RoM 1.87; 95% CI [1.53; 2.30], respectively), inflammatory (RoM 1.56; 95% CI [1.44; 1.70], RoM 1.49; 95% CI [1.39; 1.60] and RoM 1.48; 95% CI [1.36; 1.61], respectively) and total lesion count (ROM 1.67; 95% CI [1.47; 1.90], RoM 1.59; 95% CI [1.42; 1.79] and RoM 1.64; 95% CI [1.42; 1.89], respectively) compared to placebo. All single agents outperformed placebo except tazarotene, which did not significantly outperform placebo for inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesion count reduction. Most combination agents significantly outperformed their individual components in lesion count reduction and global assessment scores, except for clindamycin-tretinoin and clindamycin-BPO, which did not significantly outperform tretinoin (RoM 1.13; 95% CI [0.94; 1.36]) and BPO (RoM = 1.15, 95% CI [0.98; 1.36]), respectively, for non-inflammatory lesion reduction. There was no significant difference amongst most single agents when evaluating lesion count reduction. Combination agents are generally most effective for mild-to-moderate acne; however for non-inflammatory acne, the addition of clindamycin in topical regimens is unnecessary and should be avoided.

Librarian-Led Assessment of Medical Students' Evidence-Based Medicine Competency: Facilitators and Barriers.

Introduction: We must ensure, through rigorous assessment that physicians have the evidence-based medicine (EBM) skills to identify and apply the best available information to their clinical work. However, there is limited guidance on how to assess EBM competency. With a better understanding of their current role in EBM education, Health Sciences Librarians (HSLs), as experts, should be able to contribute to the assessment of medical student EBM competence. The purpose of this study is to explore the HSLs perspective on EBM assessment practices, both current state and potential future activities. Methods: We conducted focus groups with librarians from across the United States to explore their perceptions of assessing EBM competence in medical students. Participants had been trained to be raters of EBM competence as part of a novel Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). This OSCE was just the starting point and the discussion covered topics of current EBM assessment and possibility for expanded responsibilities at their own institutions. We used a reflexive thematic analysis approach to construct themes from our conversations. Results: We constructed eight themes in four broad categories that influence the success of librarians being able to engage in effective assessment of EBM: administrative, curricular, medical student, and librarian. Conclusion: Our results inform medical school leadership by pointing out the modifiable factors that enable librarians to be more engaged in conducting effective assessment. They highlight the need for novel tools, like EBM OSCEs, that can address multiple barriers and create opportunities for deeper integration of librarians into assessment processes.

Representation of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Nephrology Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Racial and ethnic disparities in clinical trial enrollment are well described. However, whether these disparities are present in nephrology randomized clinical trials has not been previously reported. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of 380 randomized clinical trials involving different aspects of kidney disease published between 2000 and 2021. Our results indicate that worldwide reporting of race and ethnicity is poor and that White individuals account for most of the randomized participants with decreased enrollment of Black participants in more recent trials. However, trials conducted in the United States have representation of Black and Hispanic participants consistent with the population prevalence of disease and under-representation of Asian participants. BACKGROUND: Under-representation of racial and ethnic minorities in clinical trials could worsen disparities, but reporting and enrollment practices in nephrology randomized clinical trials have not been described. METHODS: PubMed was searched to capture randomized clinical trials for five kidney disease-related conditions published between 2000 and 2021 in ten high-impact journals. We excluded trials with <50 participants and pilot trials. Outcomes of interest were the proportion of trials reporting race and ethnicity and the proportions of enrolled participants in each race and ethnicity category. RESULTS: Among 380 trials worldwide, race was reported in just over half and ethnicity in 12%. Most enrolled participants were White, and Black individuals accounted for ≤10% of participants except in dialysis trials where they accounted for 26% of participants. However, Black participants were enrolled at high proportions relative to disease and population prevalence in US CKD, dialysis, and transplant trials representing 19% of participants in AKI, 26% in CKD, 44% in GN, 40% in dialysis, and 26% in transplant trials. Enrollment of Asian participants was low worldwide except in GN trials with marked under-representation in US CKD, dialysis, and transplant trials. Hispanic individuals represented only 13% of participants in US dialysis trials compared with 29% of US dialysis population. CONCLUSION: More complete reporting of race and ethnicity in nephrology trials is needed. Black and Hispanic patients are well-represented in kidney disease trials in the United States. Asian patients are poorly represented in kidney trials both globally and in the United States.

Clinician communication strategies associated with increased uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine: A systematic review.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is currently linked to almost 35,000 new cases of cancer in women and men each year in the United States. Gardasil-9 (Merck & Company), the only HPV vaccine now available in the United States, is nearly 100% effective at preventing precancers caused by oncogenic HPV types. In the United States, however, only about one half of adolescents are up to date with HPV vaccination. It is well known that health care clinicians' recommendations play a significant role in parents' decisions regarding HPV vaccination. A growing body of literature examines specific communication strategies for promoting uptake of the HPV vaccine. A comprehensive review of the evidence for each of these strategies is needed. The authors searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Web of Science Complete databases for original articles with a defined clinician communication strategy and an outcome of HPV vaccine uptake or intention to vaccinate (PROSPERO registry no. CRD42020107602). In total, 46 studies were included. The authors identified two main strategies with strong evidence supporting their positive impact on vaccine uptake: strong recommendation and presumptive recommendation. Determinations about a causal relationship were limited by the small numbers of randomized controlled trials. There is also opportunity for more research to determine the effects of motivational interviewing and cancer-prevention messaging.

Management of Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis by Primary Care Providers: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Primary care providers (PCPs), including pediatricians and general practitioners, are often the first to see children with eczema/atopic dermatitis (AD). Little is known about management of pediatric AD by PCPs and adherence to national guidelines. OBJECTIVE: To review existing literature examining management components of pediatric AD (topical corticosteroids [TCS], topical calcineurin inhibitors [TCIs], antihistamines, bathing, emollients, and diet) by PCPs. DATA SOURCES: PubMed/Medline and Embase. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: English-language articles dated 2015 to 2020 reporting outcomes addressing management of pediatric AD by PCPs. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: Two authors independently screened titles/abstracts, reviewed full-text articles, extracted relevant data, and evaluated study quality. Disagreements were resolved by a third author. RESULTS: Twenty articles were included. Surveys and national database analyses were the most common methodologies (n = 7 each). PCPs commonly prescribed TCS but had a preference for low-potency agents, overprescribed nonsedating antihistamines, and avoided TCIs. PCPs commonly recommended emollients, although this was not universal. Data characterizing nonmedication management were limited. LIMITATIONS: Most studies did not examine individual patient encounters, but rather relied on providers reporting their general behaviors. Provider behavior may vary based on country of practice. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS: Knowledge and management gaps exist among PCPs in treating pediatric AD in key areas including knowledge of TCS safety profiles and prescribing of TCIs. The current literature is largely limited to small studies that evaluate prescribing behaviors with limited data characterizing nonmedication management, highlighting the need for future research in this area.

Searching PubMed to Retrieve Publications on the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparative Analysis of Search Strings.

BACKGROUND: Since it was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, COVID-19 has dominated headlines around the world and researchers have generated thousands of scientific articles about the disease. The fast speed of publication has challenged researchers and other stakeholders to keep up with the volume of published articles. To search the literature effectively, researchers use databases such as PubMed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of different searches for COVID-19 records in PubMed and to assess the complexity of searches required. METHODS: We tested PubMed searches for COVID-19 to identify which search string performed best according to standard metrics (sensitivity, precision, and F-score). We evaluated the performance of 8 different searches in PubMed during the first 10 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate how complex a search string is needed. We also tested omitting hyphens and space characters as well as applying quotation marks. RESULTS: The two most comprehensive search strings combining several free-text and indexed search terms performed best in terms of sensitivity (98.4%/98.7%) and F-score (96.5%/95.7%), but the single-term search COVID-19 performed best in terms of precision (95.3%) and well in terms of sensitivity (94.4%) and F-score (94.8%). The term Wuhan virus performed the worst: 7.7% for sensitivity, 78.1% for precision, and 14.0% for F-score. We found that deleting a hyphen or space character could omit a substantial number of records, especially when searching with SARS-CoV-2 as a single term. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive search strings combining free-text and indexed search terms performed better than single-term searches in PubMed, but not by a large margin compared to the single term COVID-19. For everyday searches, certain single-term searches that are entered correctly are probably sufficient, whereas more comprehensive searches should be used for systematic reviews. Still, we suggest additional measures that the US National Library of Medicine could take to support all PubMed users in searching the COVID-19 literature.

Understanding medical student evidence-based medicine information seeking in an authentic clinical simulation.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence-based medicine practices of medical students in clinical scenarios are not well understood. Optimal foraging theory (OFT) is one framework that could be useful in breaking apart information-seeking patterns to determine effectiveness and efficiency of different methods of information seeking. The aims of this study were to use OFT to determine the number and type of resources used in information seeking when medical students answer a clinical question, to describe common information-seeking patterns, and identify patterns associated with higher quality answers to a clinical question. METHODS: Medical students were observed via screen recordings while they sought evidence related to a clinical question and provided a written response for what they would do for that patient based on the evidence that they found. RESULTS: Half (51%) of study participants used only 1 source before answering the clinical question. While the participants were able to successfully and efficiently navigate point-of-care tools and search engines, searching PubMed was not favored, with only half (48%) of PubMed searches being successful. There were no associations between information-seeking patterns and the quality of answers to the clinical question. CONCLUSION: Clinically experienced medical students most frequently relied on point-of-care tools alone or in combination with PubMed to answer a clinical question. OFT can be used as a framework to understand the information-seeking practices of medical students in clinical scenarios. This has implications for both teaching and assessment of evidence-based medicine in medical students.

A Systematic Review of the Psychological Benefits of Gender-Affirming Surgery.

For individuals with gender dysphoria, gender-affirming surgeries (GAS) are one means of reducing the significant distress associated with primary and secondary sex characteristics misaligned with their gender identity. This article uses a systematic review to examine the existing literature on the psychological benefits of GAS. Findings from this review indicate that GAS can lead to multiple, significant improvements in psychological functioning. Methodological differences in the literature demonstrate the need for additional research to draw more definitive conclusions about the psychological benefits of GAS.

Entrustable professional activity 7: opportunities to collaborate on evidence-based medicine teaching and assessment of medical students.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to examine gaps and opportunities for involvement of librarians in medical education and patient care as well as improve the teaching and assessment of Entrustable Professional Activity 7 (EPA 7) -- the ability to form clinical questions and retrieve evidence to advance patient care. METHODS: The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) Competency-Based Medical Education Task Force surveyed all AAHSL member libraries in October 2016 on health sciences librarian awareness and involvement in teaching and assessing EPA 7. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 54% (88/164 member libraries). While 90% (n = 76) of respondents were regularly engaged in teaching or assessing aspects of EPA 7 only 34 (39%) were involved explicitly in a Core EPA 7 project, 44% (15/34) of these projects were librarian initiated. CONCLUSIONS: Involvement in teaching and assessment of EPA 7 is an untapped opportunity for librarians to collaborate in medical education and patient care. Although librarians are already deeply involved in teaching and assessment of EPA 7 related knowledge, skills, and behaviors, further librarian collaboration can help bolster the planning or updating of existing curricula and assessments of this entrustable professional activity.

Evidence for Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcers With Biologic Skin Substitutes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Development of diabetic foot ulcers is a common complication of diabetes. Standard-of-care (SOC) therapy alone is often not sufficient to heal these wounds, resulting in application of adjuvant wound therapies including biologic skin substitutes. Although a variety of products exist, it has been difficult to formulate conclusions on their clinical efficacy. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of healing diabetic foot ulcers with biologic skin substitutes. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Four electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE [Ovid], Cochrane CENTRAL [Ovid], and Web of Science) were searched from inception through February 27, 2019. Searches included keywords and subject headings pertaining to 3 main concepts: biologic skin substitutes, wound healing, and diabetic foot ulcers. Cochrane randomized controlled trial filters were used to narrow results. Data were extracted from 54 included articles, and risk-of-bias assessments were conducted by 2 independent reviewers. The primary objective was to calculate a pooled risk ratio for the proportion of wounds completely closed by 12 weeks. Secondary objectives included a pooled risk ratio for the proportion of wounds completely closed by 6 weeks and mean time to healing. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were identified that assessed the proportion of complete wound closure by 12 weeks. We found that wounds treated with biologic dressings were 1.67 times more likely to heal by 12 weeks than those treated with SOC dressings (P < 0.00001). Five studies assessed the proportion of complete wound closure by 6 weeks. Wounds treated with biologic dressings were 2.81 times more likely to heal by 6 weeks than those treated with SOC dressings (P = 0.0001). Descriptively, 29 of 31 studies that assessed time to healing favored biologic dressings over SOC dressings. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review provides supporting evidence that biologic skin substitutes are more effective than SOC dressings at healing diabetic foot ulcers by 12 weeks. Future studies must address the relative benefits of different skin substitutes as well as the long-term implications of these products and their financial considerations.

Automated Segmentation of Tissues Using CT and MRI: A Systematic Review.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The automated segmentation of organs and tissues throughout the body using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging has been rapidly increasing. Research into many medical conditions has benefited greatly from these approaches by allowing the development of more rapid and reproducible quantitative imaging markers. These markers have been used to help diagnose disease, determine prognosis, select patients for therapy, and follow responses to therapy. Because some of these tools are now transitioning from research environments to clinical practice, it is important for radiologists to become familiar with various methods used for automated segmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Radiology Research Alliance of the Association of University Radiologists convened an Automated Segmentation Task Force to conduct a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature on this topic. RESULTS: The systematic review presented here includes 408 studies and discusses various approaches to automated segmentation using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for neurologic, thoracic, abdominal, musculoskeletal, and breast imaging applications. CONCLUSION: These insights should help prepare radiologists to better evaluate automated segmentation tools and apply them not only to research, but eventually to clinical practice.

Using social network analysis to examine alcohol use among adults: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use and abuse constitute a major public health problem and identifying their determinants is a priority. Social network analysis can indicate how characteristics of social networks are related to individual health behaviors. A growing number of studies have used social network analysis to examine how social network characteristics influence adult alcohol consumption, but this literature has never been systematically reviewed and summarized. The current paper systematically reviews empirical studies that used social network analysis to assess the influence of social network characteristics on drinking behaviors in adults. METHODS: A literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases and a review of the reference lists of retrieved articles was conducted in March 2019. Two reviewers independently screened 5,510 non-duplicate records, and further screened the full text of 150 articles to determine their eligibility for inclusion. Seventeen articles were judged eligible and included. RESULTS: Most studies were conducted among young adults (mean age<30), in university settings or follow up visits with adolescent networks moving into adulthood. The objectives and methods of the included studies were heterogeneous. All included studies reported a statistically significant association between a social network characteristic and an alcohol consumption-related outcome. Social network members drinking behaviors were associated with participants' drinking behaviors in multiple ways. DISCUSSION: In young adults, among whom the majority of identified studies were conducted, with whom they socialize and how they socialize appears to be associated with alcohol consumption; this was observed across methodologies and settings. We still know very little about the relationship of social networks to drinking in older age groups, and in populations most impacted by alcohol. As social networks appear to play a role in the consumption of alcohol in young adulthood, interventions that utilize social networks to help reduce harmful alcohol consumption should be considered.

Collaboration challenges in systematic reviews: a survey of health sciences librarians.

OBJECTIVE: While many librarians have been asked to participate in systematic reviews with researchers, often these researchers are not familiar with the systematic review process or the appropriate role for librarians. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges and barriers that librarians face when collaborating on systematic reviews. To take a wider view of the whole process of collaborating on systematic reviews, the authors deliberately focused on interpersonal and methodological issues other than searching itself. METHODS: To characterize the biggest challenges that librarians face while collaborating on systematic review projects, we used a web-based survey. The thirteen-item survey included seventeen challenges grouped into two categories: methodological and interpersonal. Participants were required to indicate the frequency and difficulty of the challenges listed. Open-ended questions allowed survey participants to describe challenges not listed in the survey and to describe strategies used to overcome challenges. RESULTS: Of the 17 challenges listed in the survey, 8 were reported as common by over 40% of respondents. These included methodological issues around having too broad or narrow research questions, lacking eligibility criteria, having unclear research questions, and not following established methods. The remaining challenges were interpersonal, including issues around student-led projects and the size of the research team. Of the top 8 most frequent challenges, 5 were also ranked as most difficult to handle. Open-ended responses underscored many of the challenges included in the survey and revealed several additional challenges. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the most frequent and challenging issues relate to development of the research question and general communication with team members. Clear protocols for collaboration on systematic reviews, as well as a culture of mentorship, can help librarians prevent and address these challenges.

Reflection as a Learning Tool in Graduate Medical Education: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Graduate medical education programs employ reflection to advance a range of outcomes for physicians in training. However, the most effective applications of this tool have not been fully explored. OBJECTIVE: A systematic review of the literature examined interventions reporting the use of reflection in graduate medical education. METHODS: The authors searched Medline/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ERIC for studies of reflection as a teaching tool to develop medical trainees' capacities. Key words and subject headings included reflection, narrative, residents/GME, and education/teaching/learning. No language or date limits were applied. The search yielded 1308 citations between inception for each database and June 15, 2015. A total of 16 studies, encompassing 477 residents and fellows, met eligibility criteria. Study quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Checklist. The authors conducted a thematic analysis of the 16 articles. RESULTS: Outcomes studied encompassed the impact of reflection on empathy, comfort with learning in complex situations, and engagement in the learning process. Reflection increased learning of complex subjects and deepened professional values. It appears to be an effective tool for improving attitudes and comfort when exploring difficult material. Limitations include that most studies had small samples, used volunteers, and did not measure behavioral outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Critical reflection is a tool that can amplify learning in residents and fellows. Added research is needed to understand how reflection can influence growth in professional capacities and patient-level outcomes in ways that can be measured.

A simulated "Night-onCall" to assess and address the readiness-for-internship of transitioning medical students.

Transitioning medical students are anxious about their readiness-for-internship, as are their residency program directors and teaching hospital leadership responsible for care quality and patient safety. A readiness-for-internship assessment program could contribute to ensuring optimal quality and safety and be a key element in implementing competency-based, time-variable medical education. In this paper, we describe the development of the Night-onCall program (NOC), a 4-h readiness-for-internship multi-instructional method simulation event. NOC was designed and implemented over the course of 3 years to provide an authentic "night on call" experience for near graduating students and build measurements of students' readiness for this transition framed by the Association of American Medical College's Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency. The NOC is a product of a program of research focused on questions related to enabling individualized pathways through medical training. The lessons learned and modifications made to create a feasible, acceptable, flexible, and educationally rich NOC are shared to inform the discussion about transition to residency curriculum and best practices regarding educational handoffs from undergraduate to graduate education.

Starting the data conversation: informing data services at an academic health sciences library.

OBJECTIVE: The research obtained information to plan data-related products and services. METHODS: Biomedical researchers in an academic medical center were selected using purposive sampling and interviewed using open-ended questions based on a literature review. Interviews were conducted until saturation was achieved. RESULTS: Interview responses informed library planners about researchers' key data issues. CONCLUSIONS: This approach proved valuable for planning data management products and services and raising library visibility among clients in the research data realm.