The efficacy of mindfulness-based programs in reducing anxiety among nurses in hospital settings: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The increasing pressure of their professional duties has led to a notable concern regarding the mounting anxiety levels among nurses. The ongoing discussion revolves around the efficacy of mindfulness as a means to alleviate anxiety in nurses. AIM: This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of mindfulness in reducing anxiety among nurses. METHODS: The evaluation followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. An extensive and comprehensive search was conducted across eight databases to identify studies that utilized randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and were published in English between 2011 and 2022. Independently, two reviewers assessed the validity of the randomized controlled trials using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials criteria. Additionally, two authors independently employed the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-2) method to evaluate the potential bias in the RCTs. RESULTS: Eight randomized controlled trial studies that were deemed eligible were included in the current analysis. Based on the literature review, it was determined that mindfulness-based training can assist nurses in reducing their anxiety levels. Furthermore, the effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs in enhancing nurses' mindfulness and self-compassion has been firmly established. CONCLUSIONS: Based on existing literature, mindfulness-based interventions have proven to be effective in reducing anxiety levels among nurses. However, in order to enhance the overall quality of research, it is necessary to implement more rigorous controlled designs that include randomization. Additionally, larger sample sizes with a diverse range of participants are needed to establish and validate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs in alleviating anxiety among nurses. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Implementing mindfulness-based training in healthcare organizations can offer numerous benefits. One such advantage is that it can help nurses in reducing anxiety and enhancing their ability to handle the pressures associated with their profession. STUDY REGISTRATION: PROSPERO Protocol registration ID: CRD42023475157.

Accuracy of Fitbit Charge 4, Garmin Vivosmart 4, and WHOOP Versus Polysomnography: Systematic Review.

Background: Despite being the gold-standard method for objectively assessing sleep, polysomnography (PSG) faces several limitations as it is expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive; requires various equipment and technical expertise; and is impractical for long-term or in-home use. Consumer wrist-worn wearables are able to monitor sleep parameters and thus could be used as an alternative for PSG. Consequently, wearables gained immense popularity over the past few years, but their accuracy has been a major concern. Objective: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to appraise the performance of 3 recent-generation wearable devices (Fitbit Charge 4, Garmin Vivosmart 4, and WHOOP) in determining sleep parameters and sleep stages. Methods: Per the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement, a comprehensive search was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Embase databases. Eligible publications were those that (1) involved the validity of sleep data of any marketed model of the candidate wearables and (2) used PSG or an ambulatory electroencephalogram monitor as a reference sleep monitoring device. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) incorporated a sleep diary or survey method as a reference, (2) review paper, (3) children as participants, and (4) duplicate publication of the same data and findings. Results: The search yielded 504 candidate articles. After eliminating duplicates and applying the eligibility criteria, 8 articles were included. WHOOP showed the least disagreement relative to PSG and Sleep Profiler for total sleep time (-1.4 min), light sleep (-9.6 min), and deep sleep (-9.3 min) but showed the largest disagreement for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (21.0 min). Fitbit Charge 4 and Garmin Vivosmart 4 both showed moderate accuracy in assessing sleep stages and total sleep time compared to PSG. Fitbit Charge 4 showed the least disagreement for REM sleep (4.0 min) relative to PSG. Additionally, Fitbit Charge 4 showed higher sensitivities to deep sleep (75%) and REM sleep (86.5%) compared to Garmin Vivosmart 4 and WHOOP. Conclusions: The findings of this systematic literature review indicate that the devices with higher relative agreement and sensitivities to multistate sleep (ie, Fitbit Charge 4 and WHOOP) seem appropriate for deriving suitable estimates of sleep parameters. However, analyses regarding the multistate categorization of sleep indicate that all devices can benefit from further improvement in the assessment of specific sleep stages. Although providers are continuously developing new versions and variants of wearables, the scientific research on these wearables remains considerably limited. This scarcity in literature not only reduces our ability to draw definitive conclusions but also highlights the need for more targeted research in this domain. Additionally, future research endeavors should strive for standardized protocols including larger sample sizes to enhance the comparability and power of the results across studies.

Clinical pharmacy key performance indicators for hospital inpatient setting: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Key performance indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable measures used to monitor the quality of health services. Implementation guidelines for clinical pharmacy services (CPS) do not specify KPIs. AIM: To assess the quality of the studies that have developed KPIs for CPS in inpatient hospital settings. METHOD: A systematic review was conducted by searching in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, supplemented with citation analyses and grey literature searches, to retrieve studies addressing the development of KPIs in CPS for hospital inpatients. Exclusions comprised drug- or disease-specific studies and those not written in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish. The Appraisal of Indicators through Research and Evaluation (AIRE) instrument assessed methodological quality. Domain scores and an overall score were calculated using an equal-weight principle. KPIs were classified into structure, process, and outcome categories. The protocol is available at https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/KS2G3 . RESULTS: We included thirteen studies that collectively developed 225 KPIs. Merely five studies scored over 50% on the AIRE instrument, with domains #3 (scientific evidence) and #4 (formulation and usage) displaying low scores. Among the KPIs, 8.4% were classified as structure, 85.8% as process, and 5.8% as outcome indicators. The overall methodological quality did not exhibit a clear association with a major focus on outcomes. None of the studies provided benchmarking reference values. CONCLUSION: The KPIs formulated for evaluating CPS in hospital settings primarily comprised process measures, predominantly suggested by pharmacists, with inadequate evidence support, lacked piloting or validation, and consequently, were devoid of benchmarking reference values.

Outcomes of subsequent pregnancy in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The primary concern for women who have experienced peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is the safety of a subsequent pregnancy (SSP). To maximie decision-making, facilitate effective patient counselling, and ultimately improve maternal and fetal outcomes as a whole, it is critical to comprehend the outcomes of SSP in women who have previously experienced PPCM. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of SSP in women with PPCM. METHODS: Three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) were used to identify relevant studies prior to 17 October 2023. A total of 662 studies were reviewed. Following the abstract and full-text screenings, 18 observational studies were included, out of which 2 were deemed suitable for inclusion in this meta-analysis. The quality assessment was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: This study has a total of 487 SSPs. Although recovered left ventricular (LV) function before entering SSP has the potential to be a beneficial prognostic factor, recovered LV function still has a substantial risk of relapse. The mortality rate of PPCM in an SSP ranged from 0% to 55.5%. Persistent LV dysfunction was significantly associated with an increased mortality rate (OR 13.17; 95% CI 1.54 to 112.28; p=0.02) and lower LV ejection fraction (MD -12.88; 95% CI -21.67 to -4.09; p=0.004). Diastolic and right ventricular functions remained unchanged before SSP and at follow-up. The majority of the SSP was observed alongside hypertension, while pre-eclampsia emerged as the predominant hypertensive complication in most studies. CONCLUSION: SSP increases the risk of relapse and mortality in women with a previous history of PPCM. Persistent LV dysfunction prior to the SSP has a higher mortality risk compared with recovered LV function. SSP was also associated with the worsening of LV echocardiography parameters.

Comprehensive Evidence-based Health Maintenance.

The potential of primary prevention to prevent, delay, or ameliorate disease is immense. However, the total spending on preventive services in the US remains astoundingly small and represents a meager 3.5% of total health care spending. Moreover, training focused on prevention in medical schools is often neglected, and time-constrained primary providers frequently omit effective preventive and early detection measures, or perform them perfunctorily. Indeed, preventable conditions of serious consequences including 'premature' mortality, cardiovascular events, and major organ failure are ubiquitous with the global obesity and diabetes epidemics, and the ongoing high prevalence of noxious habits and drug abuse. Although each aspect has been the subject of extensive research, a succinct evidence-base summary is scarce. We have conducted a review of high-quality evidence (systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and practice guidelines) over the last 20 years to extract the best updated recommendations on comprehensive disease prevention and approved screening, briefly citing significant risk reductions by lifestyle interventions, pharmacological prevention, cancer screening, other endorsed screening, immunizations, and issues in the patient-provider interface.

mHealth-Based Gamification Interventions Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the HIV Prevention and Care Continuum: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: In the past few years, a burgeoning interest has emerged in applying gamification to promote desired health behaviors. However, little is known about the effectiveness of such applications in the HIV prevention and care continuum among men who have sex with men (MSM). Objective: This study aims to summarize and evaluate research on the effectiveness of gamification on the HIV prevention and care continuum, including HIV-testing promotion; condomless anal sex (CAS) reduction; and uptake of and adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), and antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods: We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research and its sister journals for studies published in English and Chinese from inception to January 2024. Eligible studies were included when they used gamified interventions with an active or inactive control group and assessed at least one of the following outcomes: HIV testing; CAS; and uptake of and adherence to PrEP, PEP, and ART. During the meta-analysis, a random-effects model was applied. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality and risk of bias of each included study. Results: The systematic review identified 26 studies, including 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The results indicated that gamified digital interventions had been applied to various HIV outcomes, such as HIV testing, CAS, PrEP uptake and adherence, PEP uptake, and ART adherence. Most of the studies were conducted in the United States (n=19, 73%). The most frequently used game component was gaining points, followed by challenges. The meta-analysis showed gamification interventions could reduce the number of CAS acts at the 3-month follow-up (n=2 RCTs; incidence rate ratio 0.62, 95% CI 0.44-0.88). The meta-analysis also suggested an effective but nonstatistically significant effect of PrEP adherence at the 3-month follow-up (n=3 RCTs; risk ratio 1.16, 95% CI 0.96-1.38) and 6-month follow-up (n=4 RCTs; risk ratio 1.28, 95% CI 0.89-1.84). Only 1 pilot RCT was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a gamified app in promoting HIV testing and PrEP uptake. No RCT was conducted to evaluate the effect of the gamified digital intervention on PEP uptake and adherence, and ART initiation among MSM. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the short-term effect of gamified digital interventions on lowering the number of CAS acts in MSM. Further well-powered studies are still needed to evaluate the effect of the gamified digital intervention on HIV testing, PrEP uptake, PEP initiation and adherence, and ART initiation in MSM.

Effects of Telemedicine on Informal Caregivers of Patients in Palliative Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Telemedicine technology is a rapidly developing field that shows immense potential for improving medical services. In palliative care, informal caregivers assume the primary responsibility in patient care and often face challenges such as increased physical and mental stress and declining health. In such cases, telemedicine interventions can provide support and improve their health outcomes. However, research findings regarding the use of telemedicine among informal caregivers are controversial, and the efficacy of telemedicine remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of telemedicine on the burden, anxiety, depression, and quality of life of informal caregivers of patients in palliative care. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, CBM, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP databases to identify relevant randomized controlled trials published from inception to March 2023. Two authors independently screened the studies and extracted the relevant information. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Intervention effects were estimated and sensitivity analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4, whereas 95% prediction intervals (PIs) were calculated using R (version 4.3.2) and RStudio. Results: A total of 9 randomized controlled trials were included in this study. The meta-analysis indicated that telemedicine has reduced the caregiving burden (standardized mean differences [SMD] -0.49, 95% CI -0.72 to -0.27; P<.001; 95% PI -0.86 to -0.13) and anxiety (SMD -0.23, 95% CI -0.40 to -0.06; P=.009; 95% PI -0.98 to 0.39) of informal caregivers; however, it did not affect depression (SMD -0.21, 95% CI -0.47 to 0.05; P=.11; 95% PI -0.94 to 0.51) or quality of life (SMD 0.35, 95% CI -0.20 to 0.89; P=.21; 95% PI -2.15 to 2.85). Conclusions: Although telemedicine can alleviate the caregiving burden and anxiety of informal caregivers, it does not significantly reduce depression or improve their quality of life. Further high-quality, large-sample studies are needed to validate the effects of telemedicine. Furthermore, personalized intervention programs based on theoretical foundations are required to support caregivers.

Effect of nonpharmacological interventions on poststroke depression: a network meta-analysis.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) on poststroke depression (PSD) in stroke patients. Methods: Computer searches were conducted on the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and Wanfang databases from their establishment to December 2023. The selection was made using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 40 articles were included to compare the effects of the 17 NPIs on patients with PSD. Results: Forty studies involving seventeen interventions were included. The network findings indicated that compared with conventional therapy (COT), superior PSD improvement was observed for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) + acupoint acupuncture (CBTA) (mean difference [MD], -4.25; 95% CI, -5.85 to -2.65), team positive psychotherapy (MD, -4.05; 95% CI, -5.53 to -2.58), music therapy (MT) + positive psychological intervention (MD, -2.25; 95% CI, -3.65 to -0.85), CBT (MD, -1.52; 95% CI, -2.05 to -0.99), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MD, -1.14; 95% CI, -2.14 to -0.14), MT (MD, -0.95; 95% CI, -1.39 to -0.52), acupoint acupuncture + MT (AAMT) (MD, -0.69; 95% CI, -1.25 to -0.14). Furthermore, CBT (MD, -3.87; 95% CI, -4.57 to -3.17), AAMT (MD, -1.02; 95% CI, -1.41 to -0.62), acupressure + MT (MD, -0.91; 95% CI, -1.27 to -0.54), and narrative care + acupressure (MD, -0.74; 95% CI, -1.19 to -0.29) demonstrated superior Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) improvement compared with COT. Conclusion: Evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggests that CBTA improves depression in patients with PSD. Moreover, CBT improves sleep in these patients. Additional randomized controlled trials are required to further investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of these interventions.

Adverse and serious adverse events incidence of pharmacological interventions for managing chronic and episodic migraine in adults: a systematic review.

Background: Migraine is the second most common prevalent disorder worldwide and is a top cause of disability with a substantial economic burden. Many preventive migraine medications have notable side effects that affect different body organs. Method: We systematically searched for published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) using terms for migraine/headache and preventive medications. Using eligibility criteria, two reviewers independently assessed the articles. Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was applied to assess the quality of the studies. Data were classified by system organ class (SOC). Results: Thirty-two RCTs with 21 780 participants met the eligibility criteria for the incidence of adverse events (AEs). Additionally, 33 RCTs with 22 615 participants were included to synthesise the incidence of serious AEs (SAEs). The percentage of attributed AEs and SAEs to each SOC for 10 preventive drugs with different dosing regimens was calculated. Amitriptyline and topiramate had a higher incidence of nervous system disorders; Topiramate was also associated with a higher incidence of psychiatric disorders. All drugs showed a certain incidence of infections and infestations, with Onabotulinumtoxin A (BTA) having the lowest rate. BTA had a higher incidence of musculoskeletal disorders than the other drugs. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) such as fremanezumab and galcanezumab were linked to more general disorders and administration site conditions than other drugs. Conclusion: Notably, the observed harm to SOCs varies among these preventive drugs. We suggest conducting head-to-head RCTs to evaluate the safety profile of oral medications, BTA, and CGRP MAbs in episodic and/or chronic migraine populations. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021265993.

Methodological quality of systematic reviews on atopic dermatitis treatments: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Systematic reviews (SRs) could offer the best evidence supporting interventions, but methodological flaws limit their trustworthiness in decision-making. This cross-sectional study appraised the methodological quality of SRs on atopic dermatitis (AD) treatments. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Database for SRs on AD treatments published in 2019-2022. We extracted SRs' bibliographical data and appraised SRs' methodological quality with AMSTAR (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews) 2. We explored associations between methodological quality and bibliographical characteristics. RESULTS: Among the 52 appraised SRs, only one (1.9%) had high methodological quality, while 45 (86.5%) critically low. For critical domains, only five (9.6%) employed comprehensive search strategy, seven (13.5%) provided list of excluded studies, 17 (32.7%) considered risk of bias in primary studies, 21 (40.4%) contained registered protocol, and 24 (46.2%) investigated publication bias. Cochrane reviews, SR updates, SRs with European corresponding authors, and SRs funded by European institutions had better overall quality. Impact factor and author number positively associated with overall quality. CONCLUSIONS: Methodological quality of SRs on AD treatments is unsatisfactory. Future reviewers should improve the above critical methodological aspects. Resources should be devolved into upscaling evidence synthesis infrastructure and improving critical appraisal skills of evidence users.

[A Study on the Scientific Reliability of Notification Data in the Foods with Function Claims].

We conducted a comprehensive survey of Foods with Function Claims (FFC) submitted from April to August 2022 to examine the scientific reliability of the systematic review (SR), which is the basis for functional claims. The results of the review of 611 functional claims for 398 products showed that there were 121 functionally active substances and 87 health claims (Hc) that were labeled, with some functionally active substances having multiple functions. SRs, meta-analyses, and clinical studies were submitted as the basis of functionality for 87%, 10%, and 3% of the reports, respectively. Of these SRs, 39% of the SRs included a single paper. In 67% of the SRs with a single paper included, some of the authors of the included paper and the person who conducted the SR had the same affiliation, which raises concerns about conflicts of interest. The median of clinical trial participants in papers included for SR was relatively small, 38, and the smallest total number of SRs was 6. Thus, it was shown that there are many SRs for FFC that are based on only a single paper or a small-scale clinical trial and that lack reliability as scientific evidence.

Leveraging systematic review practice for research skill development in an undergraduate science course: A case study.

Information literacy skills are an important part of research skills for undergraduate science students. This case study presents a novel approach to developing these types of research skills. By deconstructing the research process into separate steps, explicitly defining, and practicing the skills involved, students can progressively develop these skills and apply them. In this course, systematic reviews are used as exemplars for the research process. We align the Research Skills Development Framework with the steps of a systematic review and present specific skills and accompanying activities for each step. This workshop-based course emphasizes skill development and can help overcome assessments that rely solely on a final paper, with no record or evidence of the student research process, that could be created by a generative artificial intelligence tool.

The Evidence Project: Protocol for Systematic Reviews of Behavioral Interventions and Behavioral Aspects of Biomedical Interventions for HIV Prevention, Treatment, and Health Service Delivery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

The Evidence Project conducts systematic reviews and meta-analyses of HIV behavioral interventions, behavioral aspects of biomedical interventions, combination prevention strategies, modes of service delivery, and integrated programs in low- and middle-income countries. Here, we present the overall protocol for our reviews. For each topic, we conduct a comprehensive search of five online databases, complemented by secondary reference searching. Articles are included if they are published in peer-reviewed journals and present pre/post or multi-arm data on outcomes of interest. Data are extracted from each included article by two trained coders working independently using standardized coding forms, with differences resolved by consensus. Risk of bias is assessed with the Evidence Project tool. Data are synthesized descriptively, and meta-analysis is conducted when there are similarly measured outcomes across studies. For over 20 years, this approach has allowed us to synthesize literature on the effectiveness of interventions and contribute to the global HIV response.

Clinical practice guidelines for diagnostic and treatment of the chronic heart failure.

Chronic heart failure continues to be one of the main causes of impairment in the functioning and quality of life of people who suffer from it, as well as one of the main causes of mortality in our country and around the world. Mexico has a high prevalence of risk factors for developing heart failure, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, which makes it essential to have an evidence-based document that provides recommendations to health professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. This document establishes the clinical practice guide (CPG) prepared at the initiative of the Mexican Society of Cardiology (SMC) in collaboration with the Iberic American Agency for the Development and Evaluation of Health Technologies, with the purpose of establishing recommendations based on the best available evidence and agreed upon by an interdisciplinary group of experts. This document complies with international quality standards, such as those described by the US Institute of Medicine (IOM), the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), the Intercollegiate Network for Scottish Guideline Development (SIGN) and the Guidelines International Network (G-I-N). The Guideline Development Group was integrated in a multi-collaborative and interdisciplinary manner with the support of methodologists with experience in systematic literature reviews and the development of CPG. A modified Delphi panel methodology was developed and conducted to achieve an adequate level of consensus in each of the recommendations contained in this CPG. We hope that this document contributes to better clinical decision making and becomes a reference point for clinicians who manage patients with chronic heart failure in all their clinical stages and in this way, we improve the quality of clinical care, improve their quality of life and reducing its complications.

La insuficiencia cardiaca crónica sigue siendo unas de las principales causas de afectación en el funcionamiento y en la calidad de vida de las personas que la presentan, así como una de las primeras causas de mortalidad en nuestro país y en todo el mundo. México tiene una alta prevalencia de factores de riesgo para desarrollar insuficiencia cardiaca, tales como hipertensión arterial, diabetes y obesidad, lo que hace imprescindible contar con un documento basado en la evidencia que brinde recomendaciones a los profesionales de la salud involucrados en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de estos pacientes. Este documento establece la guía de práctica clínica (GPC) elaborada por iniciativa de la Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología (SMC) en colaboración con la Agencia Iberoamericana de Desarrollo y Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud, con la finalidad de establecer recomendaciones basadas en la mejor evidencia disponible y consensuadas por un grupo interdisciplinario y multicolaborativo de expertos. Cumple con estándares internacionales de calidad, como los descritos por el Institute of Medicine de los Estados Unidos de América (IOM), el National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) del Reino Unido, la Intercollegiate Network for Scottish Guideline Development (SIGN) de Escocia y la Guidelines International Network (G-I-N). El grupo de desarrollo de la guía se integró de manera interdisciplinaria con el apoyo de metodólogos con experiencia en revisiones sistemáticas de la literatura y en el desarrollo de GPC. Se llevó a cabo y se condujo metodología de panel Delphi modificado para lograr un nivel de consenso adecuado en cada una de las recomendaciones contenidas en esta GPC. Esperamos que este documento contribuya para la mejor toma de decisiones clínicas y se convierta en un punto de referencia para los clínicos que manejan pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca crónica en todas sus etapas clínicas, y de esta manera logremos mejorar la calidad en la atención clínica, aumentar la calidad de vida de los pacientes y disminuir las complicaciones de la enfermedad.

Conducting a Systematic Review of the Literature.

This overview of the systematic review provides guidance regarding how and when to use this approach to a research question. High quality systematic reviews are essential to assist health care practitioners keep current with the large and rapidly growing body of scientific evidence. The systematic review is a transparent and reproducible synthesis of all the available evidence on a clearly defined research question or topic. Key stages in conducting a systematic review include clarification of aims and methods in a protocol, finding all of the relevant research, data collection, quality assessments, synthesizing evidence, and interpreting the findings. This short report provides examples for the various stages and steps of the systematic review research approach.

Ontology-based decision support systems for diabetes nutrition therapy: A systematic literature review.

Diabetes is a non-communicable disease that has reached epidemic proportions, affecting 537 million people globally. Artificial Intelligence can support patients or clinicians in diabetes nutrition therapy - the first medical therapy in most cases of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. In particular, ontology-based recommender and decision support systems can deliver a computable representation of experts' knowledge, thus delivering patient-tailored nutritional recommendations or supporting clinical personnel in identifying the most suitable diet. This work proposes a systematic literature review of the domain ontologies describing diabetes in such systems, identifying their underlying conceptualizations, the users targeted by the systems, the type(s) of diabetes tackled, and the nutritional recommendations provided. This review also delves into the structure of the domain ontologies, highlighting several aspects that may hinder (or foster) their adoption in recommender and decision support systems for diabetes nutrition therapy. The results of this review process allow to underline how recommendations are formulated and the role of clinical experts in developing domain ontologies, outlining the research trends characterizing this research area. The results also allow for identifying research directions that can foster a preeminent role for clinical experts and clinical guidelines in a cooperative effort to make ontologies more interoperable - thus enabling them to play a significant role in the decision-making processes about diabetes nutrition therapy.

Trial sequential analysis: A simple guide for judging the conclusiveness of the effect.

Meta-analysis is a statistical method used in systematic reviews to provide a quantitative estimate of the effect. However, including very few studies and participants may increase the risk of spurious findings. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) has been introduced to enhance the robustness of meta-analysis. TSA is a cumulative meta-analysis method that weighs type I and II errors while estimating the effect. The application of TSA can lead to a more accurate estimation of the clinical effectiveness of the intervention. The aim of the present paper was to introduce the TSA to orthodontic clinicians and researchers using continuous data from an orthodontic systematic review.

A blueprint for patient and public involvement in the development of a reporting guideline for systematic reviews of outcome measurement instruments: PRISMA-COSMIN for OMIs 2024.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, projects to develop reporting guidelines have attempted to integrate the perspectives of patients and public members. Best practices for patient and public involvement (PPI) in such projects have not yet been established. We recently developed an extension of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), to be used for systematic reviews of outcome measurement instruments (OMIs): PRISMA-COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments) for OMIs 2024. Patients and public members formed a small but impactful stakeholder group. We critically evaluated the PPI component in this project and developed recommendations for conducting PPI when developing reporting guidelines. MAIN TEXT: A patient partner was an integral research team member at the project development and grant application stage. Once the project started, five patient and public contributors (PPCs) were recruited to participate in the Delphi study; three PPCs contributed to subsequent steps. We collected quantitative feedback through surveys; qualitative feedback was garnered through a focus group discussion after the Delphi study and through debrief meetings after subsequent project activities. Feedback was thematically combined with reflections from the research team, and was predominantly positive. The following themes emerged: importance of PPI partnership, number of PPCs involved, onboarding, design of Delphi surveys, flexibility in the process, complexity of PPI in methodological research, and power imbalances. Impacts of PPI on the content and presentation of the reporting guideline were evident, and reciprocal learning between PPCs and the research team occurred throughout the project. Lessons learned were translated into 17 recommendations for future projects. CONCLUSION: Integrating PPI in the development of PRISMA-COSMIN for OMIs 2024 was feasible and considered valuable by PPCs and the research team. Our approach can be applied by others wishing to integrate PPI in developing reporting guidelines.

Measuring Women's Satisfaction with Childbirth: A Literature Review of Measurement Properties.

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of the quality of care provided. Evaluating women's satisfaction with childbirth is essential to improving obstetric care and ensuring a positive experience for mothers and newborns. The tools used to measure women's satisfaction with childbirth are very heterogeneous and multidimensional. Assessment tools used in practice should be tested and meet characteristics that are consistently validated.The aim is to identify currently available instruments measuring women's satisfaction with childbirth and to evaluate their structure, content and psychometric properties. Methods: A systematic search for sources was carried out according to the criteria set. For the included studies, psychometric properties were assessed in accordance with the principles of the guideline for completing systematic reviews of patient-reported outcome measures, COSMIN. Results: The review included 31 studies that reported the psychometric properties of six measurement instruments (questionnaires, scales). Content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, reliability and cross-cultural validity were assessed for the included studies. The Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ/CEQ2) and Birth Satisfaction Scale - Revised (BSS-R) were the most commonly used questionnaires in the studies. Conclusions: Thorough testing of tools measuring women's satisfaction with childbirth, and adapting them to cultural and social contexts, is still essential. It is crucial that valid and reliable questionnaires are available for midwives in practice, for use in research, to inform clinical practice and for the results to help develop the services offered.