Impact of restricted visitation policies in hospitals on patients, family members and healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionFlexible visitation policies in hospitals are an important component of care that contributes to reduced stress and increased satisfaction among patients and their family members. Early evidence suggests restricted visitation policies enacted in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic are having unintended consequences on patients, family members and healthcare providers. There is a need for a comprehensive summary of the impacts of restricted visitation policies on key stakeholders and approaches to mitigate that impact.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a scoping review as per the Arksey-O’Malley 5-stage scoping review method and the Scoping Review Methods Manual by the Joanna Briggs Institute. We will search relevant electronic databases (eg, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO), grey literature and preprint repositories. We will include all study designs including qualitative and quantitative methodologies (excluding protocols) as well as reports, opinions and editorials, to identify the broad impact of restricted hospital visitation policies due to the COVID-19 pandemic on patients, family members or healthcare providers of hospitalised patients, and approaches taken or proposed to mitigate this impact. Two reviewers will calibrate the screening criteria and data abstraction form and will independently screen studies and abstract the data. Narrative synthesis with thematic analysis will be performed.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not applicable as this review will be conducted on published literature only. This scoping review will identify, describe and categorise impacts of restricted hospital visitation policies due to the COVID-19 pandemic on patients, family members and healthcare providers of hospitalised patients, and approaches that have been taken to mitigate impact. We will provide a comprehensive synthesis by developing a framework of restricted visitation policies and associated impacts. Our results will inform the development of consensus statements on restricted visitation policies to be implemented in future pandemics.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020221662.

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Models of support to family members during the trajectory of cancer: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037633 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e037633

Author(s):

Maria Samuelsson ◽

Anne Wennick ◽

Jenny Jakobsson ◽

Mariette Bengtsson

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Search Strategy ◽

Scientific Journal ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Family Members ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Flow Diagram ◽

Ethical Approval ◽

Study Characteristics

IntroductionA cancer diagnose, for example, colorectal cancer, not only affects the cancer-person stricken, but also the surrounding family. Thus, this scoping review intends to identify appropriate models of support that will guide the development of a model of support to family members during the trajectory of colorectal cancer.Methods and analysisThis scoping review will be guided by the methodological framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley, refined by Levac et al and Colquhoun et al, and described by the Joanna Briggs Institute. All the stages will be conducted iteratively and reflexively. First, a search strategy will be developed with a librarian and applied in the following peer-reviewed databases: PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and PsycINFO. Additional searches will be performed in Google Scholar and SwePub for identification of grey literature and hand searched in the reference lists. Searches will be conducted from December 2019 to February 2020. A draft of the preliminary search strategy was performed in PubMed in November 2019. Subsequently, three members of the research team will independently screen all abstracts for relevance, as well as the full-text articles. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria will be critically evaluated using the Joanna Brigg Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. A descriptive summary of study characteristics and of the scoping review process will be presented, including a visual flow diagram. Lastly, a thematic analysis as presented by Braun and Clarke will be conducted. To enhance validity, contact nurses of persons with colorectal cancer will be provided an overview of the preliminary results.Ethics and disseminationBeing a secondary analysis, ethical approval is not needed for this study. The findings of the analysis will be used to inform the design of a future study aiming to develop a model of support and an upcoming scoping review, which will be published in a scientific journal and presented at relevant conferences.

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Canadian educational resources about cannabis use and fertility, pregnancy and breast feeding: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e045006

Author(s):

Kira Bombay ◽

Malia S Q Murphy ◽

Kathryn M Denize ◽

Ayni Sharif ◽

Lindsey Sikora ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Child Outcomes ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Educational Resources ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Demographic Groups ◽

Protocol Registration ◽

Registration Number

IntroductionCannabis use in Canada is becoming more prevalent across all demographic groups due to increases in accessibility and lowered perceptions of harm. These patterns are mirrored among women of reproductive age, including women who are pregnant. Given increasing evidence for detrimental short- and long-term impacts of cannabis exposure on fetal, newborn and child outcomes, there is a need for high-quality, accessible resources providing reliable guidance and recommendations on this topic for both the public and healthcare providers. We will conduct a scoping review to identify and characterise all publicly available online educational resources discussing cannabis use related to fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding developed by Canadian organisations.Methods and analysisUsing Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodology as a guide, we will search Medline (Ovid), Medline in Process (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), ERIC (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost) and Education Source (EBSCOhost). We will also conduct a grey literature search targeting the websites of national and independent Canadian obstetrical societies and networks, and government and public health offices that provide recommendations or guidance to individuals and their healthcare providers seeking information on cannabis use related to fertility, pregnancy or breastfeeding.Ethics and disseminationResearch ethics approval is not required for scoping review studies. We anticipate that this review’s findings will be disseminated through traditional channels, including preprint and peer-reviewed publications and presentations at academic conferences. In addition, the resources and guidelines identified in the study will be gathered and made available online on a single comprehensive public repository.Protocol registration numberosf.io/p24y5.

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A scoping review of registry captured indicators for evaluating quality of critical care in ICU

Journal of Intensive Care ◽

10.1186/s40560-021-00556-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Issrah Jawad ◽

Sumayyah Rashan ◽

Chathurani Sigera ◽

Jorge Salluh ◽

Arjen M. Dondorp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Health Care Quality ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Patient Reported Outcome ◽

Care Quality ◽

Patient Reported

Abstract Background Excess morbidity and mortality following critical illness is increasingly attributed to potentially avoidable complications occurring as a result of complex ICU management (Berenholtz et al., J Crit Care 17:1-2, 2002; De Vos et al., J Crit Care 22:267-74, 2007; Zimmerman J Crit Care 1:12-5, 2002). Routine measurement of quality indicators (QIs) through an Electronic Health Record (EHR) or registries are increasingly used to benchmark care and evaluate improvement interventions. However, existing indicators of quality for intensive care are derived almost exclusively from relatively narrow subsets of ICU patients from high-income healthcare systems. The aim of this scoping review is to systematically review the literature on QIs for evaluating critical care, identify QIs, map their definitions, evidence base, and describe the variances in measurement, and both the reported advantages and challenges of implementation. Method We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane libraries from the earliest available date through to January 2019. To increase the sensitivity of the search, grey literature and reference lists were reviewed. Minimum inclusion criteria were a description of one or more QIs designed to evaluate care for patients in ICU captured through a registry platform or EHR adapted for quality of care surveillance. Results The search identified 4780 citations. Review of abstracts led to retrieval of 276 full-text articles, of which 123 articles were accepted. Fifty-one unique QIs in ICU were classified using the three components of health care quality proposed by the High Quality Health Systems (HQSS) framework. Adverse events including hospital acquired infections (13.7%), hospital processes (54.9%), and outcomes (31.4%) were the most common QIs identified. Patient reported outcome QIs accounted for less than 6%. Barriers to the implementation of QIs were described in 35.7% of articles and divided into operational barriers (51%) and acceptability barriers (49%). Conclusions Despite the complexity and risk associated with ICU care, there are only a small number of operational indicators used. Future selection of QIs would benefit from a stakeholder-driven approach, whereby the values of patients and communities and the priorities for actionable improvement as perceived by healthcare providers are prioritized and include greater focus on measuring discriminable processes of care.

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Biologics in professional and Olympic sport: a scoping review

The Bone & Joint Journal ◽

10.1302/0301-620x.103b7.bjj-2020-2282.r1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 103-B (7) ◽

pp. 1189-1196

Author(s):

Iain R. Murray ◽

Navnit S. Makaram ◽

Scott A. Rodeo ◽

Marc R. Safran ◽

Seth L. Sherman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Reviews ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Musculoskeletal Injuries ◽

American Football ◽

Biologic Therapies ◽

Olympic Athletes ◽

Hamstring Injuries ◽

Consensus Statements ◽

Scoping Reviews

Aims The aim of this study was to prepare a scoping review to investigate the use of biologic therapies in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries in professional and Olympic athletes. Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews and Arksey and O’Malley frameworks were followed. A three-step search strategy identified relevant published primary and secondary studies, as well as grey literature. The identified studies were screened with criteria for inclusion comprising clinical studies evaluating the use of biologic therapies in professional and Olympic athletes, systematic reviews, consensus statements, and conference proceedings. Data were extracted using a standardized tool to form a descriptive analysis and a thematic summary. Results A total of 202 studies were initially identified, and 35 met criteria for the scoping review; 33 (94.3%) were published within the last eight years, and 18 (51.4%) originated from the USA. Platelet rich plasma was the most studied biologic therapy, being evaluated in 33 (94.3%) studies. Ulnar collateral ligament and hamstring injuries were the conditions most studied (nine (25.7%) studies and seven (20.0%) studies, respectively). Athletes most frequently participated in baseball, soccer, and American football. Only two (5.7%) studies were level 1 evidence, with interpretation and comparison between studies limited by the variations in the injury profile, biologic preparations, and rehabilitation protocols. Conclusion There is diverse use of biologic therapies in the management of musculoskeletal injuries in professional and Olympic athletes. There is currently insufficient high-level evidence to support the widespread use of biologic therapies in athletes. Further research priorities include the development of condition/pathology-specific preparations of biologic therapies, and of outcome measures and imaging modalities sufficiently sensitive to detect differences in outcomes, should they exist. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(7):1189–1196.

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Chronic heart failure patients’ experiences of German healthcare services: a protocol for a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025685 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. e025685 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mirjam Dieckelmann ◽

Felix Reinhardt ◽

Klaus Jeitler ◽

Thomas Semlitsch ◽

Jasper Plath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Chronic Heart Failure ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Subjective Expectations ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Holistic Understanding ◽

Ethical Approval ◽

Research Questions

IntroductionChronic heart failure (CHF) is a heterogeneous condition requiring complex treatment from diverse healthcare services. An increasingly holistic understanding of healthcare has resulted in contextual factors such as perceived quality of care, as well as patients’ acceptance, preferences and subjective expectations of health services, all gaining in importance. How patients with CHF experience the use of healthcare services has not been studied within the scope of a systematic review in a German healthcare context. The aim of this scoping review is therefore to review systematically the experiences of patients affected by CHF with healthcare services in Germany in the literature and to map the research foci. Further objectives are to identify gaps in evidence, develop further research questions and to inform decision makers concerned with improving healthcare of patients living with CHF.Methods and analysisThis scoping review will be based on a broad search strategy involving systematic and comprehensive electronic database searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, CINAHL and Cochrane’s Database of Systematic Reviews, grey literature searches, as well as hand searches through reference lists and non-indexed key journals. The methodological procedure will be based on an established six-stage framework for conducting scoping reviews that includes two independent reviewers. Data will be systematically extracted, qualitatively and quantitatively analysed and summarised both narratively and visually. To ensure the research questions and extracted information are meaningful, a patient representative will be involved.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval will not be required to conduct this review. Results will be disseminated through a clearly illustrated report that will be part of a wider research project. Furthermore, it is intended that the review’s findings should be made available to relevant stakeholders through conference presentations and publication in peer-reviewed journals (knowledge transfer). Protocol registration in PROSPERO is not applicable for scoping reviews.

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Type and use of digital technology in learning health systems: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026204 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. e026204

Author(s):

Lysanne Lessard ◽

Agnes Grudniewicz ◽

Antoine Sauré ◽

Agnieszka Szczotka ◽

James King ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Systems ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Digital Technology ◽

Technology Use ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Future Research ◽

Efficiency And Effectiveness ◽

Ethical Approval ◽

Review Protocol

IntroductionHealth systems in North America and Europe have been criticised for their lack of safety, efficiency and effectiveness despite rising healthcare costs. In response, healthcare leaders and researchers have articulated the need to transform current health systems into continuously and rapidly learning health systems (LHSs). While digital technology has been envisioned as providing the transformational power for LHSs by generating timely evidence and supporting best care practices, it remains to be ascertained if it is indeed playing this role in current LHS initiatives. This paper presents a protocol for a scoping review that aims at providing a comprehensive understanding of how and to what extent digital technology is used within LHSs. Results will help to identify gaps in the literature as a means to guide future research on this topic.Methods and analysisMultiple databases and grey literature will be searched with terms related to learning health systems. Records selection will be done in duplicate by two reviewers applying pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction from selected records will be done by two reviewers using a piloted data charting form. Results will be synthesised through a descriptive numerical summary and a mapping of digital technology use onto types of LHSs and phases of learning within LHSs.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this scoping review. Preliminary results will be shared with stakeholders to account for their perspectives when drawing conclusions. Final results will be disseminated through presentations at relevant conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

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Relational influences on experiences with assisted dying: A scoping review

Nursing Ethics ◽

10.1177/0969733020921493 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (7) ◽

pp. 1501-1516

Author(s):

Caroline Variath ◽

Elizabeth Peter ◽

Lisa Cranley ◽

Dianne Godkin ◽

Danielle Just

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Family Members ◽

Assisted Dying ◽

Roles And Responsibilities ◽

Integral Role ◽

Unique Experience ◽

Collaboration And Communication ◽

Relational Framework ◽

Sociopolitical Influences

Background: Family members and healthcare providers play an integral role in a person’s assisted dying journey. Their own needs during the assisted dying journey are often, however, unrecognized and underrepresented in policies and guidelines. Circumstances under which people choose assisted dying, and relational contexts such as the sociopolitical environment, may influence the experiences of family members and healthcare providers. Ethical considerations: Ethics approval was not required to conduct this review. Aim: This scoping review aims to identify the relational influences on the experiences of family members and healthcare providers of adults who underwent assisted dying and of those unable to access assisted dying due to the loss of capacity to consent. Methods: A literature search was conducted in four databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PsycINFO. The search retrieved 12,074 articles, a number narrowed down to 172 articles for full-text screening. Thirty-six articles met the established inclusion criteria. A feminist relational framework guided the data analysis. Results: Five key themes on the influences of family members’ and healthcare providers’ experiences throughout the assisted dying process were synthesized from the data. They include (1) relationships as central to beginning the process, (2) social and political influences on decision making, (3) complex roles and responsibilities of family members and healthcare providers, (4) a unique experience of death, and (5) varying experiences following death. Conclusion: The feminist relational lens, used to guide analysis, shed light on the effect of the sociopolitical influences and the relationships among patients, families, and healthcare providers on each other’s experiences. Addressing the needs of the family members and healthcare providers is vital to improving the assisted dying process. Including families’ and healthcare providers’ needs within institutional policies and enhancing collaboration and communication among those involved could improve the overall experience.

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Patient-centred care for addiction treatment: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024588 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. e024588 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kirsten Marchand ◽

Scott Beaumont ◽

Jordan Westfall ◽

Scott MacDonald ◽

Scott Harrison ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Addiction Treatment ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Open Science ◽

Patient Centred Care ◽

Healthcare Settings ◽

Problematic Substance Use ◽

Problematic Substance

IntroductionSubstance use disorders are chronic conditions that require a multidimensional treatment approach. Despite ongoing efforts to diversify such treatments, evidence continues to illuminate modest rates of treatment engagement and perceived barriers to treatment. Patient-centred care (PCC) is one approach that may strengthen the responsiveness of treatments for people with problematic substance use. The aim of this scoping review is to explore how the principles of PCC have been implemented and operationalised in healthcare settings for people with problematic substance use.Methods and analysisThis scoping review follows the iterative stages of the Arksey and O’Malley framework. Both empirical (from Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ISI Web of Science) and grey literature references will be considered if they focused on populations with problematic substance use and described or measured PCC or one of its principles in a health-oriented context. Two reviewers will independently screen references in two successive stages of title/abstract screening and then full-text screening for references meeting title/abstract criteria. A descriptive overview, tabular and/or graphical summaries, and a directed content analysis will be carried out on extracted data. This scoping review has been registered with Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/5swvd/).Ethics and disseminationThis review will systematically examine the extent and nature of existing evidence of PCC in addiction research and clinical practice. Such evidence will contribute to the operationalisation of PCC for people with problematic substance use. A multidisciplinary team has been gathered to represent the needs of people with problematic substance use, healthcare providers and decision-makers. The team’s knowledge users will be engaged throughout this review and will participate in dissemination activities (eg, workshops, presentations, publications, reports).

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Scoping review of symptoms in children with rare, progressive, life-threatening disorders

BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care ◽

10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-001943 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 91-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Colleen Pawliuk ◽

Kim Widger ◽

Tammie Dewan ◽

Gina Brander ◽

Helen L Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Symptom Management ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Behavioural Problems ◽

Feeding Difficulties ◽

Childhood Conditions ◽

Motor Problems ◽

Cornelia De Lange

BackgroundQ3 conditions are progressive, metabolic, neurological or chromosomal childhood conditions without a cure. Children with these conditions face an unknown lifespan as well as unstable and uncomfortable symptoms. Clinicians and other healthcare professionals are challenged by a lack of evidence for symptom management for these conditions.AimsIn this scoping review, we systematically identified and mapped the existing literature on symptom management for children with Q3 conditions. We focused on the most common and distressing symptoms, namely alertness, behavioural problems, bowel incontinence, breathing difficulties, constipation, feeding difficulties, sleep disturbance, temperature regulation, tone and motor problems and urinary incontinence. For children with complex health conditions, good symptom management is pertinent to ensure the highest possible quality of life.MethodsScoping review. Electronic database searches in Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL and a comprehensive grey literature search.ResultsWe included 292 studies in our final synthesis. The most commonly reported conditions in the studies were Rett syndrome (n=69), followed by Cornelia de Lange syndrome (n=25) and tuberous sclerosis (n=16). Tone and motor problems were the most commonly investigated symptom (n=141), followed by behavioural problems (n=82) and sleep disturbance (n=62).ConclusionThe evidence for symptom management in Q3 conditions is concentrated around a few conditions, and these studies may not be applicable to other conditions. The evidence is dispersed in the literature and difficult to access, which further challenges healthcare providers. More research needs to be done in these conditions to provide high-quality evidence for the care of these children.

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Identifying occupational health hazards among healthcare providers and ancillary staff in Ghana: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058048 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. e058048

Author(s):

Philip Apraku Tawiah ◽

Alberta Baffour-Awuah ◽

Emmanuel Appiah-Brempong ◽

Evans Afriyie-Gyawu

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

English Language ◽

Electronic Materials ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Reference List

IntroductionThe formation, modification and implementation of occupational health and safety policy for the Ghana healthcare industry hinge on data and reviews on occupational exposures. However, there is no synthesised review to speak to the issues of these occupational exposures. A scoping review on occupational exposures among the health workforce in Ghana will provide a broad overview of exposures, and can guide and assist in making decisions on occupational health issues relating to healthcare workers.Methods and analysisArksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodology framework will guide the conduct of this scoping review. Primary research studies, government documents and other information on occupational exposures among healthcare workers published in the English language will be retrieved from databases including PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO and Google scholar. A systematic search strategy will be employed to identify articles from 1 January 2010 until 30 November 2021. Also, grey literature sources in Ghana including government and tertiary institutions websites will be searched. A reference list of key studies and other available non-electronic materials will also be screened to identify relevant studies for inclusion. The review will consider studies that address prevalence, knowledge and predisposing factors of occupational exposures along with the use of occupational hazards control/preventive measures. After removal of duplicates, and title and abstract screening, relevant articles will be subjected to full-text analysis. The screening processes will be conducted independently by two reviewers. Data will then be extracted and presented in tabular form with a narrative to aid easy comprehension.Ethics and disseminationThis scoping review does not require ethical approval. The findings will be disseminated through publications, conference presentations and stakeholder meetings.

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