Job satisfaction and burnout syndrome among intensive-care unit nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The severe conditions often experienced in an intensive care unit, combined with poor working conditions, increase stress and therefore decrease job satisfaction. Sustained stress in the workplace leads to the development of burnout, a syndrome characterised by three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and perceived lack of personal fulfilment. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relationship between burnout syndrome and job satisfaction among ICU personnel. DATA SOURCES: The PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus databases were used. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The study sample consisted of 18 quantitative primary studies conducted in the last five years. Validated questionnaires were used to assess burnout in ICU healthcare workers, the most commonly used being the Maslach Burnout Inventory. EXTRACTION METHODS: The search equation applied was: "job satisfaction AND nurs* AND burnout AND (ICU OR intensive care units)". The search was performed in October 2022. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The search returned 514 results. Only 73 articles met the eligibility criteria. After reading the title and abstract, 20 articles were selected. After reading the full texts, 12 articles remained and after the reverse search, 18 articles were finally selected. The studies reported a 50% prevalence of burnout, all three dimensions of which were heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of the study findings revealed an inverse association between burnout and job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Job dissatisfaction of ICU nurses depends on lack of experience, working conditions or working environment among others. ICU nurses with lower job satisfaction have higher levels of burnout. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: This meta-analysis shows the potential value of job satisfaction on improving health outcomes related to burnout syndrome for nursing professional in Intensive Care Units. Different factors that could increase job satisfaction and consequently protect them from suffering high levels of burnout, such as salary, permanence in the service, mental health care are the responsibility of the hospital supervisor and, finally, of the own Health System. Knowledge of a risk profile based on the factors influencing job dissatisfaction would enable the implementation of effective workplace interventions to reduce or prevent the risk of burnout. Health policies should focus on protecting the worker, so in addition to improving working conditions, it would be interesting to promote coping skills in order to improve the quality of care and patient safety.

Assessing the Risk of Hypertension in Chronic, Elderly Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: This study considers care management for older chronic patients during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. AIMS: To identify groups of variables at previous time points as a basis for deriving efficient classification models during and after a pandemic situation and to quantify the effect of each variable within the model to predict levels of worsening risk in diastolic and systolic arterial hypertension (AHT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective longitudinal study, data were collected at three time points: before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic period. RESULTS: The study included 148 patients with an average age of 81.6 years. During the study period, mean systolic blood pressure among this population rose by 5 mmHg to 128.8 mmHg; the number of patients with systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg rose by 45.3%; among those with diastolic blood pressure > 90, the number rose by 41.2%; mean triglycerides levels rose to 152.6 mg/dL; cholesterol levels rose to 147 mg/dL; and LDL cholesterol rose to 112.2 mg/dL. Meanwhile, mean levels of HDL cholesterol decreased to 46.5 mg/dL. Binary-response logistic regression models were constructed to identify the most relevant variables for predicting AHT risk during and after the pandemic. The heart rate (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.22-2.72) and body mass index (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.08-2.94) variables were significant at the population level (p < 0.05) for diastolic and systolic AHT in the pandemic period risk models. The body mass index variable was also significant for diastolic AHT in the post-pandemic period risk model (OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.32-2.94), whilst the triglycerides variable was significant in the systolic AHT post-pandemic period risk model (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.01-1.86). CONCLUSIONS: Bad control of arterial hypertension in older patients with chronic disease is associated with elevated levels of LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, heart rate and triglycerides, and lower levels of HDL cholesterol.

Relation and effect of resilience on burnout in nurses: A literature review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To study the relation between burnout and resilience and to identify the profile of nurses presenting this quality. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION: Healthcare professionals are subject to high rates of burnout. Resilience could be an important factor in preventing or alleviating this condition. METHODS: The PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus and ScienceDirect databases were consulted in February 2022 using the equation 'burnout AND resilience AND nurs*'. The inclusion criteria applied were that the texts should describe quantitative studies, be published in English or Spanish, in any year, and be directly related to the question considered. The meta-analysis was performed using StatsDirect statistical software. RESULTS: Analysis of the 29 studies shows that among the dimensions of burnout, nurses are especially prone to emotional exhaustion, and are less affected by depersonalisation and low personal accomplishment. Those who score highly for resilience tend to have longer service experience, acceptable salaries and less work overload. Meta-analysis reveals an inverse correlation between resilience and burnout (r = -0.41; n = 2750), exhaustion (r = -0.27; n = 6966) and depersonalisation (r = -0.23; n = 6115). CONCLUSION: Many nurses present low levels of resilience and suffer from burnout syndrome. The application of programmes to enhance their resilience would help prevent burnout and optimise the potential to provide quality health care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Resilience is inversely correlated with burnout, depersonalisation and emotional exhaustion. Accordingly, healthcare organisations should develop and implement evidence-based programmes to foster nurses' resilience and thus reduce their susceptibility to burnout.

Telemedicine in Elderly Hypertensive and Patients with Chronic Diseases during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: One aspect of the distancing measures imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is that telemedicine consultations have increased exponentially. Among these consultations, the assessment and follow-up of patients with chronic diseases in a non-presential setting has been strengthened considerably. Nevertheless, some controversy remains about the most suitable means of patient follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the telemedicine measures implemented during the COVID-19 period on chronic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review was carried out using the following databases: PubMed, Pro-Quest, and Scopus. The systematic review followed the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The search equation utilized descriptors sourced from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus. The search equation was: "hypertension AND older AND primary care AND (COVID-19 OR coronavirus)" and its Spanish equivalent. RESULTS: The following data were obtained: 14 articles provided data on 6,109,628 patients and another 4 articles focused on a study population of 9684 physicians. Telemedicine was less likely to be used by elderly patients (OR 0.85; 95% C.I. 0.83-0.88; p = 0.05), those of Asian race (OR 0.69; 95% C.I. 0.66-0.73; p = 0.05), and those whose native language was not English (OR 0.89; 95% C.I. 0.78-0.9; p = 0.05). In primary care, lower use of telemedicine was associated with residents of rural areas (OR 0.81; p = 0.05), patients of African American race (OR 0.65, p = 0.05), and others (OR 0.64; p = 0.05). A high proportion (40%) of physicians had no prior training in telemedicine techniques. The highest quality in terms of telephone consultation was significantly associated with physicians who did not increase their prescription of antibiotherapy during the pandemic (OR = 0.30, p = 0.05) or prescribe more tests (OR 0.06 p = 0.05), i.e., who maintained their former clinical criteria despite COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine is of proven value and has been especially useful in the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed remote-presential model is most efficient. Appropriate training in this area for physicians and patients, together with correct provision, is essential to prevent errors in implementation and use.

IBD and Motherhood: A Journey through Conception, Pregnancy and Beyond.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) presents distinct challenges during pregnancy due to its influence on maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. This literature review aims to dissect the existing scientific evidence on pregnancy in women with IBD and provide evidence-based recommendations for clinical management. A comprehensive search was conducted across scientific databases, selecting clinical studies, systematic reviews, and other pertinent resources. Numerous studies have underscored an increased risk of complications during pregnancy for women with IBD, including preterm birth, low birth weight, neonates small for gestational age, and congenital malformations. Nevertheless, it's evident that proactive disease management before and throughout pregnancy can mitigate these risks. Continuation of IBD treatment during pregnancy and breastfeeding is deemed safe with agents like thiopurines, anti-TNF, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab. However, there's a call for caution when combining treatments due to the heightened risk of severe infections in the first year of life. For small molecules, their use is advised against in both scenarios. Effective disease management, minimizing disease activity, and interdisciplinary care are pivotal in attending to women with IBD. The emphasis is placed on the continual assessment of maternal and infant outcomes and an expressed need for further research to enhance the understanding of the ties between IBD and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Burnout syndrome and work engagement in nursing staff: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A difficult and demanding work environment, such as that often experienced in healthcare, can provoke fatigue, anxiety, distress, and discomfort. This study considers factors that may influence levels of burnout and work engagement among nurses and seeks to determine the relationship between these conditions. Method: A systematic scoping review was performed, in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, based on data obtained from a search of the PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus databases carried out in 2022 using the search equation: "work engagement AND nurs* AND burnout." This search identified nine quantitative primary studies suitable for inclusion in our analysis. Results: Work overload, type of shift worked, and/or area of hospital service, among other elements, are all relevant to the development of burnout. This syndrome can be countered by social support and appropriate personal resources and values, which are all positively associated with work engagement. Our analysis revealed a significant correlation between work engagement and the different domains of burnout. The correlation effect size between burnout and work engagement was -0.46 (95% CI -0.58, -0.31), with p < 0.001. Conclusion: Well-targeted interventions in the healthcare work environment can reduce burnout levels, strengthen work engagement, and enhance the quality of healthcare.

Correction: Albendín-García et al. Explanatory Models of Burnout Diagnosis Based on Personality Factors in Primary Care Nurses. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 9170.

The following corrections have been made to the paper [...].

Prevalence and levels of burnout in nursing students: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze burnout levels and prevalence in nursing students and to estimate prevalence levels with meta-analyses. BACKGROUND: Nurses are one of the healthcare professionals most affect by burnout, but nursing students, during their studies, can also suffer burnout. DESIGN: a systematic review with meta-analysis was performed. METHODS: The search equation used in Pubmed, CINAHL and Scopus databases was "burnout AND nursing students". Quantitative primary studies including information about burnout, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, or personal accomplishment in nursing students were included. Four meta-analysis were performed. RESULTS: the sample was of n = 34 studies, with n = 15 studies being included in the meta-analysis with n = 2744 nursing students. Burnout prevalence was 19% (95% CI 11-28%). Regarding burnout dimensions, the most affected was high emotional exhaustion with a prevalence of 41%(95% CI 23-61%; n = 2222) followed by 27% low personal accomplishment(95% CI 9-49%; n = 2096), 25% high depersonalization (95% CI 15-36%; n = 2096). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of burnout and its dimensions vary from 19% to 41%, being emotional exhaustion the main problem in nursing students. This problem may affect their future as nursing professionals, and it would be of important to prevent and to treat burnout at university levels.

Burnout and Professional Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Nursing Students without Clinical Experience: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Burnout affects many healthcare professionals, especially nurses, causing serious health problems and disrupting the work environment. Academic burnout may also be experienced, leading students to feel unable to cope with their education. As a result, they may lose interest and even consider abandoning their studies. Hence, burnout syndrome can affect both the mental health and the professional future of those affected. To evaluate academic burnout in nursing students who had no clinical experience before starting their practical training, a cross-sectional study involving 212 third-year nursing students at the University of Granada was conducted. Data were collected using the Granada Burnout Questionnaire, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Fear of CoronaVirus-19 Scale. High levels of burnout were present in 37.8% of the students. Moreover, 21.5% and 8.7% had borderline cases of anxiety or depression, respectively. Another 30.8% and 9.2%, respectively, were considered likely to present these conditions. According to the predictive models of burnout dimensions obtained, neuroticism is a predictor of all three burnout dimensions. Furthermore, anxiety, depression, extraversion, responsibility and engagement are predictors of some dimensions of the syndrome. Many nursing students present high levels of burnout, which is related to certain personality variables and to the presence of anxiety and/or depression. The level of professional engagement is inversely associated with the impact of burnout. The participants in this study have normalised their return to the pre-pandemic study routine (in-person classes), and fear of COVID-19 was not a significant predictor of any dimension of burnout.

COVID-19 and the Use of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers in Older Chronic Hypertensive Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Angiotensin II-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and selective angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARAIIs) are widely used antihypertensive agents. Their use has generated controversy due to their possible influence on the health status of chronic patients infected with COVID-19. The objective of this work is to analyze the influence of COVID-19 on chronic hypertensive patients treated with ACEI and ARAII inhibitors. A systematic review and meta-analysis in the databases Pubmed, Pro-Quest and Scopus were carried out. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search equation descriptors were obtained from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus. The search equation was: "Older AND hypertension AND (COVID-19 OR coronavirus) AND primary care" and its equivalent in Spanish. Nineteen articles were obtained, with n = 10,806,159 subjects. Several studies describe the COVID-19 association with ACEI or ARAII treatment in hypertension patients as a protective factor, some as a risk factor, and others without a risk association. In the case of ACEI vs. ARAII, the risk described for the former has an odds ratio (OR) of 0.55, and for ARAII, an OR of 0.59. Some authors talk about mortality associated with COVID-19 and ACEI with a half ratio (HR) of 0.97, and also associated ARAIIs with an HR of 0.98. It is recommended to maintain the use of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis in the context of the COVID-19 disease.

Efficacy and Safety of New B Cell-Targeted Biologic Agent for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: B cells are central to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of new B cell-targeted drug therapies for SLE. METHODS: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and reference lists of relevant articles published from inception to 2022 were selected from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate an overall effect size for the risk of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) with belimumab and tabalumab treatment. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic and meta-regression. Funnel asymmetry was evaluated using Egger's test. RESULTS: This study included 13 RCTs, of which three showed high risk of bias. Egger's test showed no asymmetry. The risk of SAEs and AEs was lower in the treatment group with belimumab treatment. The risk of AEs for tabalumab treatment was lower in the treatment group and lower for SAEs. CONCLUSION: Belimumab and tabalumab therapies are effective and safe in the treatment of SLE, although tabalumab does not show sufficient statistical power. Advances in understanding the underlying mechanisms of SLE will be directed towards correlating clinical manifestations with specific pathogenic pathways and the development of precision medicine.

Evolution and Treatment of Academic Burnout in Nursing Students: A Systematic Review.

AIM: To analyse the scientific literature related to the evolution of burnout syndrome during nursing studies and the interventions for the treatment or prevention of this syndrome in nursing students. METHODS: A systematic review of the PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases was performed in August 2022 using the search phrase "burnout AND nursing students" to extract experimental and longitudinal studies. RESULTS: Eleven relevant studies were obtained for analysis. Four were experimental, and seven were cohort studies. According to these studies, the interventions reduced burnout overall, but on occasion, the burnout scores for some aspects increased, as did the prevalence. Psychological and work environment-related variables were the most important factors predicting burnout. CONCLUSION: Burnout (i.e., emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation) tends to increase during nursing studies. Related factors include personality, coping strategies, life satisfaction, and the work environment. Interventions such as progressive muscle relaxation, behavioural therapy, and recreational music may alleviate burnout.

Explanatory Models of Burnout Diagnosis Based on Personality Factors in Primary Care Nurses.

Burnout in the primary care service takes place when there is a high level of interaction between nurses and patients. Explanatory models based on psychological and personality related variables provide an approximation to level changes in the three dimensions of the burnout syndrome. A categorical-response ordinal logistic regression model, based on a quantitative, crosscutting, multicentre, descriptive study with 242 primary care nurses in the Andalusian Health Service in Granada (Spain) is performed for each dimension. The three models included all the variables related to personality. The risk factor friendliness was significant at population level for the three dimensions, whilst openness was never significant. Neuroticism was significant in the models related to emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, whilst responsibility was significant for the models referred to depersonalization and personal accomplishment dimensions. Finally, extraversion was also significant in the emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment dimensions. The analysis performed provides useful information, making more readily the diagnosis and evolution of the burnout syndrome in this collective.

Evolution of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Emergency and Critical Care: Therapeutic Management before and during the Pandemic Situation.

Background and Objectives: Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a life-threatening lung condition that prevents enough oxygen from getting to the lungs and blood. The causes can be varied, although since the COVID-19 pandemic began there have been many cases related to this virus. The management and evolution of ARDS in emergency situations in the last 5 years was analyzed. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was carried out in the PubMed and Scopus databases. Using the descriptors Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), the search equation was: "Emergency health service AND acute respiratory distress syndrome". The search was conducted in December 2021. Quantitative primary studies on the care of patients with ARDS in an emergency setting published in the last 5 years were included. Results: In the initial management, adherence to standard treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is recommended. The use of extracorporeal membrane reduces the intensity of mechanical ventilation or as rescue therapy in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The prone position in both intubated and non-intubated patients with severe ARDS is associated with a better survival of these patients, therefore, it is very useful in these moments of pandemic crisis. Lack of resources forces triage decisions about which patients are most likely to survive to start mechanical ventilation and this reflects the realities of intensive care and emergency care in a resource-limited setting. Conclusions: adequate prehospital management of ARDS and in emergency situations can improve the prognosis of patients. The therapeutic options in atypical ARDS due to COVID-19 do not seem to vary substantially from conventional ARDS.

Emergency and critical care professionals' opinion on escape room as a health sciences evaluation game: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

ABSTRACT: New teaching and evaluation methods are growing in health sciences. The escape room is a game that is showing benefits for assessing knowledge and important competencies in healthcare professionals. The aim of this study is to analyse the opinion of emergency and critical care professionals on the use of escape rooms as an evaluation game.A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using an ad-hoc questionnaire with a Likert-type scale. The study included emergency and critical care professionals who participated in the escape room "The Frustrated Emergency and Critical Care Professional," that took place during an emergency and critical care national congress. Data collection was carried out in June 2019.The sample was composed of n = 50 emergency and critical care professionals, 52% of whom were physicians and 48% were nurses. Professionals believe that this is a good teaching game for evaluation and useful for strengthen knowledge (4.7 points), as well as to improve teamwork and the ability to work under pressure (4.9).The escape room is a useful evaluation game in the context of emergency and critical care units that also allows training the teamwork and working under pressure competencies.

Relation between Burnout and Sleep Problems in Nurses: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Burnout can affect nurses' sleep quality. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between burnout syndrome and sleep problems in nurses. A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed. PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus databases were used. Some of the inclusion criteria were quantitative studies, in which the levels of burnout and sleep disorders were investigated in a sample of nurses using validated scales. A total of 12 studies were included. Sociodemographic variables did not influence the relation between burnout and sleep problems, except for being female. The environment and workplace violence, together with psychological traits and shifts, affect the probability of developing burnout and insomnia. The meta-analysis sample was n = 1127 nurses. The effect size of the correlation between burnout and sleep disorders was r = 0.39 (95% CI 0.29−0.48) with p < 0.001, indicating that the higher the level of burnout in nurses, the greater the presence of sleep disorders. The positive correlation between burnout and sleep disorders is a problem that must be addressed to improve the health of nurses. Developing turnicity strategies, using warmer lights in hospital units during night shifts and eliminating the fixed night shift could improve nurses' working conditions.

Explanatory Models of Burnout Diagnosis Based on Personality Factors and Depression in Managing Nurses.

Nurse managers are affected by burnout due to the high degree of interaction between managers with their registered nurses. Explanatory models based on psychological, and personality related variables purvey an estimation to level changes in the three dimensions of the burnout syndrome. A categorical-response logistic ordinal regression model, supported on a quantitative, crosscutting, multicentre, descriptive study with 86 nursing managers in the Andalusian Health Service in Granada, Spain is performed for each dimension. The three models included different variables related to personality, as well as depression as the only explanatory variable included in all the models. The risk factor neuroticism was significant at population level and related to emotional exhaustion, whilst responsibility was significant in the model estimated to personal accomplishment dimension. Finally, depression was significant for the three dimensions of Burnout. This analysis provides useful information to help the diagnosis and evolution of this syndrome in this collective.

Prevalence, levels and related factors of burnout in nurse managers: A multi-centre cross-sectional study.

AIMS: The aims of this study are to analyse the prevalence and levels of burnout syndrome in nurse managers and to evaluate the relationship between burnout and related sociodemographic, occupational and psychological factors. BACKGROUND: Burnout syndrome, defined as an emotional response to chronic stress, is a major problem among nurse managers. METHODS: The study was conducted using a cross-sectional survey design and data collected by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the revised NEO Five Factor Inventory and the Educational-Clinical Questionnaire for Anxiety and Depression. The sample population consisted of 86 nurse managers from different hospitals from the Public Health Service of Andalusia, Spain. RESULTS: A total of 22.4% of the participants presented high levels of emotional exhaustion, 21% experienced depersonalisation and 57.6% had little sense of personal accomplishment. Working long shifts was related to burnout. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were predicted by depression, while personal accomplishment was predicted by conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness. CONCLUSIONS: A total of 34.1% of the participants presented high levels of burnout, manifested by feelings of low personal accomplishment. Psychological and occupational factors play an important role in the development of this syndrome. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers should seek to detect burnout among staff and colleagues matching the risk profile for this condition and promote interventions to prevent it.

Continuity of Nursing Care in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review.

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and patient continuity of care is essential. Health professionals can help in the transition stage by providing resources to achieve pharmacological treatment adherence, as well as social and emotional support. The objective was to analyse the effects of nursing interventions based on continuity of care in patients with coronary artery disease after hospital discharge. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies was carried out. Cochrane, CINAHL, Health & medical collection, Medline, and Scopus databases were consulted in January 2022. PRISMA guidelines were followed with no time limits. In total, 16 articles were included with a total of 2950 patients. Nurse-led continuity of care programs improved the monitoring and control of the disease. Positive effects were found in the quality of life of patients, and in mental health, self-efficacy, and self-care capacity dimensions. Clinical parameters such as blood pressure and lipid levels decreased. The continuity of care provided by nurses had a positive influence on the quality of life of patients with coronary artery disease. Nurse-led care focused on the needs and resources, including continuity of care, plays a key role.

Effects of active video games on physical function in independent community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To analyse the effects of active video games on physical function in independent community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: The CINAHL, LILACS, Medline, Proquest and Scopus databases were consulted, with no restriction by year of publication. REVIEW METHODS: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan software. RESULTS: The analysis included 22 randomized controlled trials with a total of 1208 participants (all ≥55 years old). In our meta-analyses, the effects produced by playing the active video games (mean differences) were statistically significant for the variables Gait speed and Timed up-and-go. The differences between the control and experimental groups were not significant in the following tests: 6-minute walk, 30-second chair stand, balance (measured with the Berg Balance Scale), cadence, grip strength, knee extension strength, 8-Foot Up-and-Go or velocity. CONCLUSIONS: Physical exercise from participation in active video games has beneficial effects on two clinical parameters (Gait speed and Timed up-and-go) in independent community-dwelling older adults. However, the effects on other parameters do not differ from those obtained with conventional exercise training. Therefore, the clinical significance of these benefits is limited. IMPACT: Older adults usually perform little physical activity. In consequence, researchers have increasingly considered alternatives to traditional forms of exercise. One such is that provided by active video games, which can be a source of stimulation, encouraging adherence and motivation in exercise programmes. Our review shows that active video games can improve gait speed and mobility, but in other respects obtain no differences from conventional exercises. Further tailored randomized clinical trials should be undertaken with diverse populations of older adults to evaluate different physical function variables to determine the most appropriate training approach and its optimal design and duration.