A review of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) health and healthcare inequalities

Abstract Background Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people experience significant health inequalities. Located within a European Commission funded pilot project, this paper presents a review of the health inequalities faced by LGBTI people and the barriers health professionals encounter when providing care. Methods A narrative synthesis of 57 papers including systematic reviews, narrative reviews, meta-analyses and primary research. Literature was searched in Cochrane, Campbell Collaboration, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Medline. The review was undertaken to promote understanding of the causes and range of inequalities, as well as how to reduce inequalities. Results LGBTI people are more likely to experience health inequalities due to heteronormativity or heterosexism, minority stress, experiences of victimization and discrimination, compounded by stigma. Inequalities pertaining to LGBTI health(care) vary depending on gender, age, income and disability as well as between LGBTI groupings. Gaps in the literature remain around how these factors intersect to influence health, with further large-scale research needed particularly regarding trans and intersex people. Conclusion Health inequalities can be addressed via changes in policy, research and in practice through health services that accommodate the needs of LGBTI people. With improved training to address gaps in their knowledge of LGBTI health and healthcare, health professionals should work in collaboration with LGBTI people to address a range of barriers that prevent access to care. Through structural change combined with increased knowledge and understanding, services can potentially become more inclusive and equally accessible to all.

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The Potential of International Large-Scale Assessments for Meta-Analyses in Education

10.31234/osf.io/bucf9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ronny Scherer ◽

Fazilat Siddiq ◽

Trude Nilsen

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Policy Research ◽

Educational Inequalities ◽

Analytic Framework ◽

Critical Research ◽

Methodological Review ◽

Socioeconomic Gaps ◽

Research Questions ◽

Large Scale Assessments ◽

Meta Analyses

Meta-analyses and international large-scale assessments (ILSA) are key sources for informing educational policy, research, and practice. While many critical research questions could be addressed by drawing evidence from both of these sources, meta-analysts seldom integrate ILSAs, and the current integration practices lack methodological guidance. The aim of this methodological review is therefore to synthesize and illustrate the principles and practices of including ILSA data in meta-analyses. Specifically, we (a) review systematically whether and how existing meta-analyses included ILSA data; (b) present four inclusion approaches (i.e., analytic steps, potential, challenges); and (c) illustrate the application of these approaches. Seeing the need for meta-analyses on educational inequalities, we situated the review and illustration in the context of gender differences and socioeconomic gaps in student achievement. Ultimately, we propose an analytic framework outlining the steps meta-analysts could take to utilize the potential and address the challenges of ILSA data for meta-analyses in education.

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Health professionals in a changing climate: protocol for a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024451 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. e024451 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lianping Yang ◽

Chaojie Liu ◽

Jeremy Hess ◽

Dung Phung ◽

Cunrui Huang

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Research Policy ◽

Critical Role ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Significant Health ◽

Climate Change And Health

IntroductionClimate change will impose significant health impacts. Although we know health professionals should play a critical role in protecting human health from climate change, their preparedness to engage with these issues worldwide is unclear. This study aims to map the range and nature of existing evidence regarding health professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices regarding climate change and health impacts and the challenges they face, and identify knowledge gaps to guide future development of research, policy and practices.Methods and analysisWe will perform a scoping review based on the six-stage framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. Our study includes peer-reviewed literature focusing on any aspect of health professionals’ work regarding climate change and health since 2002 and indexed in MEDLINE/Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus or Embase. Identified papers will be described and assessed. Thematic analysis will be applied to evaluate and categorise the study findings.Implications and disseminationThis is the first scoping review of health professionals’ activities to anticipate and prepare for health impacts attributable to climate change. It will provide evidence regarding the current situations worldwide and gaps in preparedness. The findings can be used to highlight accomplishments to date, identify gaps and further develop good practices for health professionals’ engagement. The results will be published in the peer-reviewed literature and shared at health professional society meetings.

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Identification of and Correction for Publication Bias: Comment

10.31222/osf.io/dh87m ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Amanda Kvarven ◽

Eirik Strømland ◽

Magnus Johannesson

Keyword(s):

Publication Bias ◽

False Positive ◽

Large Scale ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

False Positive Rate ◽

Effect Sizes ◽

Replication Studies ◽

Moderate Reduction ◽

Positive Rate ◽

Meta Analyses

Andrews & Kasy (2019) propose an approach for adjusting effect sizes in meta-analysis for publication bias. We use the Andrews-Kasy estimator to adjust the result of 15 meta-analyses and compare the adjusted results to 15 large-scale multiple labs replication studies estimating the same effects. The pre-registered replications provide precisely estimated effect sizes, which do not suffer from publication bias. The Andrews-Kasy approach leads to a moderate reduction of the inflated effect sizes in the meta-analyses. However, the approach still overestimates effect sizes by a factor of about two or more and has an estimated false positive rate of between 57% and 100%.

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Impact of Educational Technology on Teacher Stress and Anxiety: A Literature Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18020548 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 548

Author(s):

José-María Fernández-Batanero ◽

Pedro Román-Graván ◽

Miguel-María Reyes-Rebollo ◽

Marta Montenegro-Rueda

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Educational Technology ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

Teaching Practice ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Teacher Stress ◽

Bibliographic Databases ◽

Technology In The Classroom ◽

Stress Symptoms ◽

Meta Analyses

Educational technology has become an increasingly important element for improving the teaching and learning process of students. To achieve these goals, it is essential that teachers have the skills they need to be able to introduce technology into their teaching practice. However, this is often overwhelming and stressful for many of them. The aim of this review was to find out how research on teacher stress and anxiety associated with the use of educational technology was proceeding. A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines through the following bibliographic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Sixteen articles were found from the review. The main findings show that teachers present high levels of anxiety or stress due to their use of educational technology in the classroom. Among the conclusions, the need for research on different strategies to prevent the emergence of these anxiety and stress symptoms in teachers stands out.

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Primary Crime Prevention Apps: A Typology and Scoping Review

Trauma Violence & Abuse ◽

10.1177/1524838020985560 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 152483802098556

Author(s):

Mark A. Wood ◽

Stuart Ross ◽

Diana Johns

Keyword(s):

Crime Prevention ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Decision Aid ◽

English Language ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Smartphone Apps ◽

Initial Sample ◽

Language Research ◽

Meta Analyses

In the last decade, an array of smartphone apps have been designed to prevent crime, violence, and abuse. The evidence base of these apps has, however, yet to analyzed systematically. To rectify this, the aims of this review were (1) to establish the extent, range, and nature of research into smartphone apps with a primary crime prevention function; (2) to locate gaps in the primary crime prevention app literature; and (3) to develop a typology of primary crime prevention apps. Employing a scoping review methodology and following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, studies were identified via Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar. We included English-language research published between 2008 and 2020 that examined smartphone applications designed explicitly for primary crime prevention. Sixty-one publications met our criteria for review, out of an initial sample of 151 identified. Our review identified six types of crime prevention app examined in these publications: self-surveillance apps, decision aid apps, child-tracking apps, educational apps, crime-mapping/alert apps, and crime reporting apps. The findings of our review indicate that most of these forms of primary crime prevention apps have yet to be rigorously evaluated and many are not evidence-based in their design. Consequently, our review indicates that recent enthusiasm over primary crime prevention apps is not supported by an adequate evidence base.

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Ethnomedical uses, chemical constituents, and evidence-based pharmacological properties of Chenopodium ambrosioides L.: extensive overview

Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.1186/s43094-021-00306-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Félicien Mushagalusa Kasali ◽

Jonans Tusiimire ◽

Justin Ntokamunda Kadima ◽

Amon Ganafa Agaba

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Chemical Constituents ◽

Main Body ◽

Pharmacological Properties ◽

Chenopodium Ambrosioides ◽

Traditional Medicines ◽

Plant Parts ◽

Chemical Studies ◽

Ethnomedicinal Uses ◽

Significant Health

Abstract Background The Chenopodium genus is a plant family widely spread worldwide that includes various plant species reputed to possess several medicinal virtues in folk medicines. Chenopodium ambrosioides L. is among the most used plants in traditional medicines worldwide. This review aimed to highlight ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical status, and pharmacological properties of C. ambrosioides L. Main body of the abstract The analysis of relevant data highlights various ethnomedicinal uses against human and veterinary diseases in forty countries. Most indications consisted of gastrointestinal tract dysfunctioning troubles and worms parasitemia. Around 330 chemical compounds have been identified in different plant parts, especially in its essential oil fractions (59.84%). However, only a few compounds—mainly monoterpenes and glycosides—have been isolated and characterized. Experimental pharmacological studies validated a large scale of significant health benefits. It appeared that many monoterpenes are antioxidant, insecticidal, trypanocidal, analgesic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, acaricidal, amoebicidal, anthelmintic, anticancer, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antifertility, antifungal, anti-leishmanial, antimalarial, antipyretic, antisickling, antischistosomal, antiulcer, anxiolytic, immunomodulatory, molluscicidal, and vasorelaxant agents. Short conclusion Thus, the Chenopodium ambrosioides species necessitates further chemical studies to isolate and characterize new bioactive secondary metabolites and pharmacological investigations to precise the mechanisms of action before clinical trials.

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Sensory-Based Priming for Upper Extremity Hemiparesis After Stroke: A Scoping Review

OTJR Occupation Participation and Health ◽

10.1177/15394492211032606 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 153944922110326

Author(s):

Mary E. Stoykov ◽

Courtney Heidle ◽

Shamshir Kang ◽

Lisa Lodesky ◽

Lindsay E. Maccary ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Motor Impairment ◽

Cochrane Collaboration ◽

Prisma Statement ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Cochrane Collaboration

Sensory priming is a technique to facilitate neuroplasticity and improve motor skills after injury. Common sensory priming modalities include peripheral nerve stimulation/somatosensory electrical stimulation (PNS/SES), transient functional deafferentation (TFD), and vibration. The aim of this study was to determine whether sensory priming with a motor intervention results in improved upper limb motor impairment or function after stroke. PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, and EMBASE were the databases used to search the literature in July 2020. This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and recommendations for the Cochrane collaboration. In total, 30 studies were included in the analysis: three studies examined TFD, 16 examined PNS/SES, 10 studied vibration, and one combined the three stimulation techniques. Most studies reported significant improvements for participants receiving sensory priming. Given the low risk, it may be advantageous to use sensory-based priming prior to or concurrent with upper limb training after stroke.

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Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Older Adults Living at High Altitude: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders ◽

10.1159/000514471 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Diego Urrunaga-Pastor ◽

Diego Chambergo-Michilot ◽

Fernando M. Runzer-Colmenares ◽

Josmel Pacheco-Mendoza ◽

Vicente A. Benites-Zapata

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

High Altitude ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Language Restriction ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Ottawa Scale

Introduction: Dementia is a chronic disease with a variable prevalence throughout the world; however, this could be higher at high-altitude populations. We aimed to summarize the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults living at high altitude. Methods: We searched in PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase and included the studies published from inception to July 20, 2020, with no language restriction, which reported the frequency of cognitive impairment or dementia in older adults living at high-altitude populations. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to calculate the overall prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of cognitive impairment and dementia. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) adapted for cross-sectional studies. Results: Six studies were included (3,724 participants), and 5 of the 6 included studies were carried out in Latin America. The altitude ranged from 1,783 to 3,847 m, the proportion of women included varied from 38.7 to 65.6%, and the proportion of participants with elementary or illiterate educational level ranged from 71.7 to 97.6%. The overall prevalence of cognitive impairment was 22.0% (95% CI: 8–40, I2: 99%), and the overall prevalence of dementia was 11.0% (95% CI: 6–17, I2: 92%). In a subgroup analysis according to the instrument used to evaluate cognitive impairment, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 21.0% (95% CI: 5–42, I2: 99%) in the MMSE group while the prevalence was 29.0% (95% CI: 0–78) in the non-MMSE group. Conclusions: The prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults living at high altitude is almost twice the number reported in some world regions.

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A systematic review of pharmacist-led audit and feedback interventions to influence prescribing behaviour in general practice settings

International Journal of Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1093/ijpp/riab015.041 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. i34-i35

Author(s):

M Carter ◽

N Abutheraa ◽

N Ivers ◽

J Grimshaw ◽

S Chapman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Practice ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Review ◽

Audit And Feedback ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Randomised Trials ◽

Prescribing Behaviour ◽

Meta Analyses

Abstract Introduction Audit and Feedback (A&F) involves measuring data about practice, comparing it with clinical guidelines, professional standards or peer performance, and then feeding back the data to individuals/groups of health professionals to encourage change in practice (if required). A 2012 Cochrane review (1) found A&F was effective in changing health professionals’ behaviour and suggested that the person who delivers the A&F intervention influences its effect. Increasingly, pharmacists work in general practice and often have responsibility for medication review and repeat prescriptions. The effectiveness of pharmacist-led A&F in influencing prescribing behaviour is uncertain. Aim This secondary analysis from an ongoing update of the original Cochrane review aims to identify and describe pharmacist-led A&F interventions and evaluate their impact on prescribing behaviour in general practice compared with no intervention. Methods This sub-review is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42020194355 and complies with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (2). For the updated Cochrane review, the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care Group searched MEDLINE (1946 to present), EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Library (March 2019) to identify randomised trials featuring A&F interventions. For this sub-review, authors screened titles and abstracts (May 2020) to identify trials involving pharmacist-led A&F interventions in primary care, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias (RoB) in eligible studies. Review results are summarised descriptively. Heterogeneity will be assessed and a random-effects meta-analysis is planned. Publication bias for selected outcomes and the certainty of the body of evidence will be evaluated and presented. Sub-group analyses will be conducted. Results Titles and abstracts of 295 studies identified for inclusion in the Cochrane A&F review update were screened. Eleven studies (all cluster-randomised trials) conducted in 9 countries (Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Ireland, UK, Australia, Malaysia, USA) were identified for inclusion (Figure 1). Six studies had low RoB, two had high risk due to dissimilarities between trial arms at baseline and/or insufficient detail about randomisation, and three studies had unclear RoB. Studies examined the effect of A&F on prescribing for specific conditions (e.g. hypertension), medications (e.g. antibiotics), populations (e.g. patients >70), and prescribing errors (e.g. inappropriate dose). The pharmacist delivering A&F was a colleague of intervention participants in five studies. Pharmacists’ levels of skill and experience varied; seven studies reported details of pharmacist training undertaken for trial purposes. A&F interventions in nine studies demonstrated changes in prescribing, including reductions in errors or inappropriate prescribing according to the study aims and smaller increases in unwanted prescribing compared with the control group. Data analyses are ongoing (results will be available for the conference). Conclusion The preliminary results demonstrate the effectiveness of pharmacist-led A&F interventions in different countries and health systems with influencing prescribing practice to align more closely with guidance. Studies measured different prescribing behaviours; meta-analysis is unlikely to include all 11 studies. Further detailed analysis including feedback format/content/frequency and pharmacist skill level/experience, work-base (external/internal to recipients), will examine the impact of specific features on intervention effectiveness. References 1. Ivers N, Jamtvedt G, Flottorp S, Young JM, Odgaard-Jensen J, French SD, et al. Audit and feedback: effects on professional practice and healthcare outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012(6):CD000259. 2. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, Group P. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009;6(7):e1000097.

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The Clinical Utility of Virtual Reality in Neurorehabilitation: A Systematic Review

Journal of Central Nervous System Disease ◽

10.1177/1179573518813541 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 117957351881354 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Thais Massetti ◽

Talita Dias da Silva ◽

Tânia Brusque Crocetta ◽

Regiani Guarnieri ◽

Bruna Leal de Freitas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Virtual Environments ◽

Neurological Disorders ◽

Clinical Utility ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Web Of Science ◽

The Past ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Impact

Background: Virtual reality (VR) experiences (through games and virtual environments) are increasingly being used in physical, cognitive, and psychological interventions. However, the impact of VR as an approach to rehabilitation is not fully understood, and its advantages over traditional rehabilitation techniques are yet to be established. Method: We present a systematic review which was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). During February and March of 2018, we conducted searches on PubMed (Medline), Virtual Health Library Search Portal databases (BVS), Web of Science (WOS), and Embase for all VR-related publications in the past 4 years (2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018). The keywords used in the search were “neurorehabilitation” AND “Virtual Reality” AND “devices.” Results: We summarize the literature which highlights that a range of effective VR approaches are available. Studies identified were conducted with poststroke patients, patients with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and other pathologies. Healthy populations have been used in the development and testing of VR approaches meant to be used in the future by people with neurological disorders. A range of benefits were associated with VR interventions, including improvement in motor functions, greater community participation, and improved psychological and cognitive function. Conclusions: The results from this review provide support for the use of VR as part of a neurorehabilitation program in maximizing recovery.

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