A Systematic Review of Current Surgical Literature Available Across Resource Settings: A Call to Action in Academic Medicine

Abstract Objective The goal of this systematic review was to evaluate practice-based, real-world research of individualized complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies for pain as provided in CIH outpatient clinics. Methods A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase through Dec 2020. The study was listed in the PROSPERO database (CRD42020159193). Major categories of variables extracted included study details and demographics; interventions; and outcomes. Results The literature search yielded 3,316 records with 264 assessed for full text review. Of those, 23 studies (including ∼8,464 patients) were specific to pain conditions as a main outcome. Studies included chiropractic, acupuncture, multimodal individualized intervention/programs, physiotherapy, and anthroposophic medicine therapy. Retention rates ranged from 53% to 91%, with studies offering monetary incentives showing the highest retention. The 0–10 numerical rating scale was the most common pain questionnaire (n = 10, 43% of studies), with an average percent improvement across all studies and timepoints of 32% (range 18–60%). Conclusions Findings from this systematic review of practice-based, real-word research indicate that CIH therapies exert positive effects on various pain outcomes. Although all studies reported beneficial impacts on one or more pain outcomes, the heterogeneous nature of studies limits our overall understanding of CIH as provided in clinical settings. Accordingly, we present numerous recommendations to improve publication reporting and guide future research. Our call to action is future, practice-based CIH research is needed, but should be more expansive and in association with a CIH scientific society with academic and healthcare members.

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Gender bias in reference letters for residency and academic medicine: a systematic review

Postgraduate Medical Journal ◽

10.1136/postgradmedj-2021-140045 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. postgradmedj-2021-140045

Author(s):

Shawn Khan ◽

Abirami Kirubarajan ◽

Tahmina Shamsheri ◽

Adam Clayton ◽

Geeta Mehta

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Gender Bias ◽

Academic Medicine ◽

Medical Faculty ◽

Gendered Language ◽

Men And Women ◽

Faculty Hiring ◽

Match Rate ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Meta Analyses

Reference letters play an important role for both postgraduate residency applications and medical faculty hiring processes. This study seeks to characterise the ways in which gender bias may manifest in the language of reference letters in academic medicine. In particular, we conducted a systematic review in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched Embase, MEDLINE and PsycINFO from database inception to July 2020 for original studies that assessed gendered language in medical reference letters for residency applications and medical faculty hiring. A total of 16 studies, involving 12 738 letters of recommendation written for 7074 applicants, were included. A total of 32% of applicants were women. There were significant differences in how women were described in reference letters. A total of 64% (7/11) studies found a significant difference in gendered adjectives between men and women. Among the 7 studies, a total of 86% (6/7) noted that women applicants were more likely to be described using communal adjectives, such as “delightful” or “compassionate”, while men applicants were more likely to be described using agentic adjectives, such as “leader” or “exceptional”. Several studies noted that reference letters for women applicants had more frequent use of doubt raisers and mentions of applicant personal life and/or physical appearance. Only one study assessed the outcome of gendered language on application success, noting a higher residency match rate for men applicants. Reference letters within medicine and medical education exhibit language discrepancies between men and women applicants, which may contribute to gender bias against women in medicine.

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Women’s leadership in academic medicine: a systematic review of extent, condition and interventions

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032232 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. e032232 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lulu Alwazzan ◽

Samiah S Al-Angari

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Leadership Development ◽

Academic Medicine ◽

Medical Schools ◽

Women's Leadership ◽

Research Quality ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Quantitative Studies ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesBecause culture reflects leadership, the making of diverse and inclusive medical schools begins with diversity among leaders. The inclusion of women leaders remains elusive, warranting a systematic exploration of scholarship in this area. We ask: (1) What is the extent of women’s leadership in academic medicine? (2) What factors influence women’s leadership? (3) What is the impact of leadership development programmes?DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesA systematic search of six online databases (OvidMEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library and ERIC) from the earliest date available to April 2018 was conducted. Bridging searches were conducted from April 2018 until October 2019.Eligibility criteria(1) Peer-reviewed; (2) English; (3) Quantitative studies (prospective and retrospective cohort, cross-sectional and preintervention/postintervention); evaluating (4) The extent of women’s leadership at departmental, college and graduate programme levels; (5) Factors influencing women’s leadership; (6) Leadership development programmes. Quantitative studies that explored women’s leadership in journal editorial boards and professional societies and qualitative study designs were excluded.Data extraction and synthesisTwo reviewers screened retrieved data of abstracts and full-texts for eligibility, assessment and extracted study-level data independently. The included studies were objectively appraised using the Medical Education Research Quality Study Instrument with an inter-rater reliability of (κ=0.93).ResultsOf 4024 records retrieved, 40 studies met the inclusion criteria. The extent of women’s leadership was determined through gender distribution of leadership positions. Women’s leadership emergence was hindered by institutional requirements such as research productivity and educational credentials, while women’s enactment of leadership was hindered by lack of policy implementation. Leadership development programmes had a positive influence on women’s individual enactment of leadership and on medical schools’ cultures.ConclusionsScholarship on women’s leadership inadvertently produced institute-centric rather than women-centric research. More robust contextualised scholarship is needed to provide practical-recommendations; drawing on existing conceptual frameworks and using more rigorous research methods.

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Measuring Whiteness: A Systematic Review of Instruments and Call to Action

The Counseling Psychologist ◽

10.1177/0011000019883261 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 530-565 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. C. Schooley ◽

Debbiesiu L. Lee ◽

Lisa B. Spanierman

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Content Analysis ◽

White Privilege ◽

Black People ◽

White Supremacy ◽

The United States ◽

Racial Justice ◽

Psychological Study ◽

Call To Action ◽

Modern Racism

The psychological study of Whiteness provides one avenue for researchers to help combat racial injustice in the United States. This article is a call to action for counseling psychologists to engage in much needed scholarship and critical examinations of Whiteness. In this systematic review and content analysis, we provide an overview of 18 quantitative measures focusing on various aspects of Whiteness published between 1967 and 2017. We summarize the constructs and psychometric properties of these measures. Our content analysis indicated that constructs assessed by Whiteness measures have shifted in focus over time across four themes: (a) Attitudes Toward Black People/Integration, (b) Modern Racism, (c) White Racial Identity, and (d) White Privilege and Antiracism. We conclude with suggestions on how advancement, development, and use of Whiteness measures could further our knowledge through research examining present-day racial justice issues. The issues highlighted include police brutality, xenophobia, immigration, White supremacy, activism, and training in the field.

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Decision letter for "Association between nurse work environment and severe maternal morbidity in high‐income countries: A systematic review and call to action"

10.1111/jan.14672/v3/decision1 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Work Environment ◽

Maternal Morbidity ◽

High Income ◽

Severe Maternal Morbidity ◽

Call To Action ◽

Nurse Work Environment

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Decision letter for "Association between nurse work environment and severe maternal morbidity in high‐income countries: A systematic review and call to action"

10.1111/jan.14672/v2/decision1 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Work Environment ◽

Maternal Morbidity ◽

High Income ◽

Severe Maternal Morbidity ◽

Call To Action ◽

Nurse Work Environment

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Sports-related concussion (SRC) assessment in road cycling: a systematic review and call to action

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000525 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e000525 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jonathan Elliott ◽

Richard Anderson ◽

Stephen Collins ◽

Neil Heron

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Brain Injuries ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Single Case ◽

Effective Means ◽

Return To Play ◽

Call To Action ◽

Assessment Protocol ◽

Published Evidence ◽

Road Cycling

BackgroundSports-related concussion (SRC) is a recognised risk in road cycling and can have serious health consequences. Recent high-profile cases of professional road cyclists continuing to participate in races despite suffering obvious SRC have highlighted the difficulties in assessing SRC within road cycling.PurposeTo undertake a systematic review of the literature on SRC assessment in road cycling.Study designSystematic review.MethodsLiterature describing SRC assessment in road cycling was identified by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts for eligibility and a qualitative analysis was undertaken of included studies.ResultsFrom 94 studies identified, two were included for review. Gordonet aldescribe the presentation of a single case of paediatric concussion following a cycling crash. They highlight the utility of SRC evaluation using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) as well as the importance of a stepwise return-to-play protocol. Greve and Modabber discuss a number of traumatic brain injuries that occurred during the 2011 road cycling season and, as a minimum, call for riders to be withdrawn from competition following loss of consciousness or amnesia. Both studies are at high risk of bias and of low quality.ConclusionRoad cycling poses unique challenges for the assessment of SRC. This review illustrates the lack of published evidence to advise effective means of SRC assessment within road cycling. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) regulations advise the use of SCAT-5 for concussion assessment but this tool is impractical, requiring modification for use in road cycling. We would like to call on the UCI to hold a consensus meeting to establish an evidence-based SRC assessment protocol and return-to-riding protocol for road cycling.

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What determines supportive behaviors following bereavement? A systematic review and call to action

Death Studies ◽

10.1080/07481187.2017.1329760 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 104-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Emma L. Logan ◽

Jennifer A. Thornton ◽

Lauren J. Breen

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Call To Action ◽

Supportive Behaviors

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