Reasons for Mother–Infant Bed-Sharing: A Systematic Narrative Synthesis of the Literature and Implications for Future Research

Objective: Children and adults with ADHD often report sleep disturbances that may form part of the etiology and/or symptomatology of ADHD. We review the evidence for sleep changes in children with ADHD. Methods: Systematic review with narrative synthesis assessing sleep and circadian function in children aged 5 to 13 years old with a diagnosis of ADHD. Results: 148 studies were included for review, incorporating data from 42,353 children. We found that sleep disturbances in ADHD are common and that they may worsen behavioral outcomes; moreover, sleep interventions may improve ADHD symptoms, and pharmacotherapy for ADHD may impact sleep. Conclusion: Sleep disturbance may represent a clinically important feature of ADHD in children, which might be therapeutically targeted in a useful way. There are a number of important gaps in the literature. We set out a manifesto for future research in the area of sleep, circadian rhythms, and ADHD.

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Factors related to sense of competence in family caregivers of people living with dementia in the community: a narrative synthesis

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610218001394 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (06) ◽

pp. 799-813 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jacki Stansfeld ◽

Nadia Crellin ◽

Martin Orrell ◽

Jennifer Wenborn ◽

Georgina Charlesworth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Future Research ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Sense Of Competence ◽

Proposed Model ◽

Quality Rating ◽

Clinical Concept ◽

Behavioral And Psychological Symptoms

ABSTRACTObjectives:Sense of competence defines a caregiver’s feeling of being capable to manage the caregiving task and is an important clinical concept in the caregiving literature. The aim of this review was to identify the factors, both positive and negative, associated with a caregiver’s perception of their sense of competence.Design:A systematic review of the literature was conducted, retrieving both quantitative and qualitative papers from databases PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Medline. A quality assessment was conducted using the STROBE and CASP checklists, and the quality rating informed the inclusion of papers ensuring the evidence was robust. Narrative synthesis was employed to synthesize the findings and to generate an updated conceptual model of sense of competence.Results:Seventeen papers were included in the review, all of which were moderate to high quality. These included 13 quantitative, three mixed-methods and one qualitative study. Factors associated with sense of competence included: behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), caregiver depression, gratitude, and the ability to find meaning in caregiving.Conclusions:The results of this review demonstrate that both positive and negative aspects of caring are associated with caregiver sense of competence. Positive and negative aspects of caregiving act in tandem to influence caregiver perception of their competence. The proposed model of sense of competence aims to guide future research and clinical interventions aimed at improving this domain but requires further testing, as due to the observational nature of the include papers, the direction of causality could not be inferred.

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What is the impact of clinically assisted hydration in the last days of life? A systematic literature review and narrative synthesis

BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care ◽

10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002600 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bmjspcare-2020-002600

Author(s):

Arjun Kingdon ◽

Anna Spathis ◽

Robert Brodrick ◽

Gemma Clarke ◽

Isla Kuhn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Weight Of Evidence ◽

Future Research ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Evidence Framework ◽

Clinically Assisted Hydration ◽

Registration Number ◽

Review Protocol ◽

The Impact

BackgroundClinically assisted hydration (CAH) can be provided in the last days of life as drinking declines. The impact of this practice on quality of life or survival in the last days of life is unclear. Practice varies worldwide concerning this emotive issue.MethodSystematic literature review and narrative synthesis of studies evaluating the impact of, or attitudes toward, CAH in the last days of life. Databases were searched up to December 2019. Studies were included if the majority of participants were in the last 7 days of life, and were evaluated using Gough’s 'Weight of Evidence' framework. Review protocol registered with PROSPERO, registration number CRD42019125837.ResultsFifteen studies were included in the synthesis. None were judged to be both of high quality and relevance. No evidence was found that the provision of CAH has an impact on symptoms or survival. Patient and family carer attitudes toward assisted hydration were diverse.ConclusionThere is currently insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions on the impact of CAH in the last days of life. Future research needs to focus on patients specifically in the last days of life, include those with non-malignant diagnoses, and evaluate best ways to communicate effectively about this complex topic with patients and their families.

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Requirements, challenges and impacts of Lean Six Sigma applications – a narrative synthesis of qualitative research

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma ◽

10.1108/ijlss-06-2019-0067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Mohamed Alblooshi ◽

Mohammad Shamsuzzaman ◽

Michael Boon Chong Khoo ◽

Abdur Rahim ◽

Salah Haridy

Keyword(s):

Six Sigma ◽

Resistance To Change ◽

Impact Category ◽

Lean Six Sigma ◽

Process Efficiency ◽

Future Research ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Qualitative Synthesis ◽

Content Type ◽

Research Studies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify, present and categorise the main requirements, challenges and impacts of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) applications. Emphasis is given to the soft impacts of LSS applications, which are intangible in nature and difficult to quantify and measure, highlighting the most frequently cited ones. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative synthesis of the studies using the narrative synthesis approach is adopted to descriptively summarise and categorise the requirements, challenges and impacts of LSS applications. The studies were searched by using the following keywords: “LSS applications,” “LSS requirements,” “LSS challenges” and “LSS impacts” in almost all major electronic databases such as Emerald, Taylor and Francis, ScienceDirect and Wiley. A total of 116 articles published between 2007 and 2017 in 41 academic journals were collected and reviewed. Consideration was also given to a number of substantial publications in 2006, 2018 and 2019. Findings In addition to its process efficiency and financial impacts, LSS was found to have another impact category related to individual and organisational behaviours. Management commitment, training and organisational culture were concluded to be amongst the most important and required categories for successful LSS applications. It was also found that the lack of awareness of LSS tools and benefits and the lack of change management and resistance to change were amongst the most cited categories of implementation challenges. Research limitations/implications The studies published between 2007 and 2017 are mainly considered in this paper. It is believed that 10-year publication period considered in this research is sufficient to study the evolution, benefits, limitations and future trends of a particular research topic. However, the exclusion criteria used in the search process with respect to the articles’ year of publication and search terms and keywords may limit the generalisation of the research findings. In addition, the qualitative nature of this research study and the lack of empirical data to support its findings is another limitation that future research should consider. Practical implications This research paper may serve as a valuable source of information for LSS researchers as it will provide them with useful and new insights and directions for further research in LSS. It will also increase the awareness of LSS practitioners about the kind of impact LSS has, and therefore, achieve a better utilisation of its tools by ensuring availability of application requirements and overcoming application challenges. Originality/value This study differs from previous research studies as it focusses attention on the soft impacts of LSS applications and highlights them. The study identifies and prioritises LSS application impacts, requirements and challenges. The study on these aspects was found to be limited and lacking in previous research studies.

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Help-Seeking Behavior in Victims of Elder Abuse: A Systematic Review

Trauma Violence & Abuse ◽

10.1177/1524838019860616 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 152483801986061 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Silvia Fraga Dominguez ◽

Jennifer E. Storey ◽

Emily Glorney

Keyword(s):

Help Seeking ◽

Elder Abuse ◽

Future Research ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Help Seeking Behavior ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Research Gaps ◽

Service Engagement ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Comprehensive Search

Elder abuse has become increasingly relevant for intervention and study in the context of an aging population. One of the major barriers to progress in the field is underreporting of elder abuse by victims. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize the available findings regarding victims’ help-seeking behavior to inform practice, understand the limits of the evidence, and identify research gaps. A comprehensive search of published and unpublished literature was undertaken, and studies were included if they addressed help-seeking behavior from the perspective of elder abuse victims aged 60 and older. A total of 19 studies met inclusion criteria for review. Findings are presented as a narrative synthesis organized according to help-seeking barriers, facilitators, sources of help, the responses of others, and the characteristics of victims more likely to seek help. Although barriers and sources of help received detailed attention across all studies, findings regarding victim characteristics and facilitators for and responses to help-seeking were limited. The results suggest that there are many barriers to help-seeking and that some victims only seek help when the abuse is perceived as unbearable or they fear for their safety. Results are discussed in relation to implications for intervention, including suggestions to enhance help-seeking behavior. Future research should identify facilitators of help-seeking among victims of elder abuse and victim characteristics associated with early disclosure. Research efforts should frame help-seeking as a continuing process and study ways in which the responses of others may impact future help-seeking or service engagement.

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Associations of workflow disruptions in the operating room with surgical outcomes: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

BMJ Quality & Safety ◽

10.1136/bmjqs-2019-010639 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (12) ◽

pp. 1033-1045 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Amelie Koch ◽

Jacob Burns ◽

Ken Catchpole ◽

Matthias Weigl

Keyword(s):

Operating Room ◽

Patient Outcomes ◽

Surgical Outcomes ◽

Operating Time ◽

Medical Specialty ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Future Research ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Surgical Safety ◽

The Impact

BackgroundPerformance in the operating room is an important determinant of surgical safety. Flow disruptions (FDs) represent system-related performance problems that affect the efficiency of the surgical team and have been associated with a risk to patient safety. Despite the growing evidence base on FDs, a systematic synthesis has not yet been published.ObjectiveOur aim was to identify, evaluate and summarise the evidence on relationships between intraoperative FD events and provider, surgical process and patient outcomes.MethodsWe systematically searched databases MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO (last update: September 2019). Two reviewers independently screened the resulting studies at the title/abstract and full text stage in duplicate, and all inconsistencies were resolved through discussion. We assessed the risk of bias of included studies using established and validated tools. We summarised effects from included studies through a narrative synthesis, stratified based on predefined surgical outcome categories, including surgical process, provider and patient outcomes.ResultsWe screened a total of 20 481 studies. 38 studies were found to be eligible. Included studies were highly heterogeneous in terms of methodology, medical specialty and context. Across studies, 20.5% of operating time was attributed to FDs. Various other process, patient and provider outcomes were reported. Most studies reported negative or non-significant associations of FDs with surgical outcomes.ConclusionApart from the identified relationship of FDs with procedure duration, the evidence base concerning the impact of FDs on provider, surgical process and patient outcomes is limited and heterogeneous. We further provide recommendations concerning use of methods, relevant outcomes and avenues for future research on associated effects of FDs in surgery.

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Exploring the psychological health of emergency dispatch centre operatives: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.3735 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e3735 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Sarah E. Golding ◽

Claire Horsfield ◽

Annette Davies ◽

Bernadette Egan ◽

Martyn Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Police Officers ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Study Objective ◽

Work Related ◽

Dispatch Centre ◽

High Workload ◽

Critical Appraisal Skills

Background The study objective was to investigate and synthesize available evidence relating to the psychological health of Emergency Dispatch Centre (EDC) operatives, and to identify key stressors experienced by EDC operatives. Methods Eight electronic databases (Embase, PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo, PsycArticles, The Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, and Google Scholar) were searched. All study designs were included, and no date limits were set. Studies were included if they were published in English, and explored the psychological health of any EDC operatives, across fire, police, and emergency medical services. Studies were excluded if they related solely to other emergency workers, such as police officers or paramedics. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using checklists adapted from the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. A narrative synthesis was conducted, using thematic analysis. Results A total of 16 articles were included in the review. Two overarching themes were identified during the narrative synthesis: ‘Organisational and Operational Factors’ and ‘Interactions with Others’. Stressors identified included being exposed to traumatic calls, lacking control over high workload, and working in under-resourced and pressured environments. Lack of support from management and providing an emotionally demanding service were additional sources of stress. Peer support and social support from friends and family were helpful in managing work-related stress. Discussion EDC operatives experience stress as a result of their work, which appears to be related to negative psychological health outcomes. Future research should explore the long-term effects of this stress, and the potential for workplace interventions to alleviate the negative impacts on psychological health. PROSPERO Registration Number CRD42014010806.

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Configuring a Construct Definition of Teacher Working Conditions in the United States: A Systematic Narrative Review of Researcher Concepts

Review of Educational Research ◽

10.3102/0034654320985611 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003465432098561

Author(s):

Becca C. Merrill

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Working Conditions ◽

Survey Methods ◽

The United States ◽

Future Research ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Teacher Working Conditions ◽

Construct Definition ◽

Sources Of Variation ◽

Definition Of

Teacher working conditions (TWCs) are, in many ways, student learning conditions. Furthermore, they have also been linked to teacher retention. These connections make TWCs important to understand; yet there is no accepted construct definition delineating and defining what TWCs are. Through a systematic review and narrative synthesis of literature from the United States, I define TWCs and organize the topics that emerged from the literature into a catalog of TWCs. After defining what TWCs are, I employ findings from the narrative synthesis to discuss what TWCs are not. Additionally, I document sources of variation in operationalizing TWCs as well as areas of homogeneity in how researchers study TWCs. I find that researchers agree on the underlying concept of TWCs, vary widely in how they decompose the concept, and overwhelmingly use survey methods to study TWCs. Last, I offer three suggestions to consider in future research.

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Online peer support for people with Parkinson’s Disease: a narrative synthesis systematic review (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.35425 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Esther Vera Gerritzen ◽

Abigail Rebecca Lee ◽

Orii McDermott ◽

Neil Coulson ◽

Martin Orrell

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Peer Support ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Future Research ◽

Emotional Impact ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Personal Experiences

BACKGROUND Parkinson’s Disease (PD) significantly impacts the lives of people with the diagnosis and their families. Besides the physical symptoms, living with PD also has an emotional impact. This can result in withdrawal from social roles, increasing the risk for social isolation and loneliness. Peer support is a way to stay socially connected, share experiences, and learn new coping skills. Peer support can be provided in-person, but also online. Advantages of online peer support include that it overcomes geographical barriers, provides a form of anonymity, and support can be readily available when needed. However, the psychosocial impact of PD is still under researched and there is no systematic synthesis of online peer support for people with PD yet. OBJECTIVE (1) explore the benefits and challenges of online peer support for people with PD, and (2) identify successful elements of online peer support for people with PD. METHODS The method selected for this systematic review is a narrative synthesis. Six databases were systematically searched in April 2020 for articles published between 1989 and 2020. The quality of the included studies was assessed with the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative research checklist and the Downs and Black checklist. RESULTS 10,987 unique articles were identified through the systematic database search. Of those, 8 were included in this review. One study was of poor quality, two were of medium/ fair quality, while the rest were of good/ high quality. Online platforms included discussion forums, an online virtual world, and Facebook groups. Besides one, all papers reported on text-based communication between users. Included studies reported on sharing social support and personal experiences. Successful elements included increasing similarity between members and offering the opportunity to directly ask questions to a physician. Challenges included members leaving without a warning and PD symptoms hindering use of technology. CONCLUSIONS Peer support can improve social support and help people with PD in living meaningful and satisfying lives. Peer support is unique and cannot be replaced by family members, friends, or healthcare professionals. Online peer support can be a solution for those who do not have access to an in-person support group, or who’s PD symptoms restrict them to travel. However, research on the personal experiences of those who engage in online peer support and potential barriers in accessing it remains limited. Future research could use qualitative methods to explore these fields further.

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Interventions to improve discharge from acute adult mental health inpatient care to the community: systematic review and narrative synthesis

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-019-4658-0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Natasha Tyler ◽

Nicola Wright ◽

Justin Waring

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Continuity Of Care ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Critical Time ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Community Services ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Future Research ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Discharge Model

Abstract Background The transition from acute mental health inpatient to community care is often a vulnerable period in the pathway, where people can experience additional risks and anxiety. Researchers globally have developed and tested a number of interventions that aim to improve continuity of care and safety in these transitions. However, there has been little attempt to compare and contrast the interventions and specify the variety of safety threats they attempt to resolve. Methods The study aimed to identify the evidence base for interventions to support continuity of care and safety in the transition from acute mental health inpatient to community services at the point of discharge. Electronic Databases including PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, HMIC, CINAHL, IBSS, Cochrane Library Trials, ASSIA, Web of Science and Scopus, were searched between 2000 and May 2018. Peer reviewed papers were eligible for inclusion if they addressed adults admitted to an acute inpatient mental health ward and reported on health interventions relating to discharge from the acute ward to the community. The results were analysed using a narrative synthesis technique. Results The total number of papers from which data were extracted was 45. The review found various interventions implemented across continents, addressing problems related to different aspects of discharge. Some interventions followed a distinct named approach (i.e. Critical Time Intervention, Transitional Discharge Model), others were grouped based on key components (i.e. peer support, pharmacist involvement). The primary problems interventions looked to address were reducing readmission, improving wellbeing, reducing homelessness, improving treatment adherence, accelerating discharge, reducing suicide. The 69 outcomes reported across studies were heterogeneous, meaning it was difficult to conduct comparative quantitative meta-analysis or synthesis. Conclusions The interventions reviewed are spread across a spectrum ranging from addressing a single problem within a single agency with a single solution, to multiple solutions addressing multi-agency problems. We recommend that future research attempts to improve homogeneity in outcome reporting.

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