scholarly journals Effectiveness and Safety of Aromatherapy in Managing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 273-297
Author(s):  
Becky Siu Yin Li ◽  
Carmen Wing Han Chan ◽  
Minjie Li ◽  
Irene Kit Yee Wong ◽  
Yvonne Hoi Un Yu
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Qualitative Studies ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Adherence Monitoring ◽  
Behavioral And Psychological Symptoms

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is the most prominent and distressing manifestation for older persons with dementia (PWD) and caregivers. Aromatherapy has demonstrated its effectiveness in managing BPSD in various studies. However, previous studies and systematic reviews have obtained inconsistent findings, and a review of qualitative studies is yet to be conducted. <b><i>Method:</i></b> A mixed-methods systematic review with a convergent segregated approach was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy in improving the BPSD and quality of life (QoL) of PWD and in relieving the distress and burden of caregivers, as well as its safety for PWD. Both published and unpublished quantitative and qualitative studies written in English and Chinese between January 1996 and December 2020 were retrieved from 28 databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science, based on the prespecified criteria. The methodological quality was assessed by using critical appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Quantitative synthesis, qualitative synthesis, and integration of quantitative and qualitative evidence were performed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 12 randomized controlled trials, 10 quasi-experimental studies, and 2 qualitative studies were included in the review. Some inconsistent findings regarding the effectiveness of aromatherapy in reducing the severity of BPSD were observed. Some studies reported that aromatherapy significantly improved the QoL of PWD and relieved the distress and burden of caregivers, promoted a positive experience among caregivers, and had very low adverse effects on PWD (with aromatherapy inhalation reporting no adverse effects). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Aromatherapy, especially in the inhalation approach, could be a potentially safe and effective strategy for managing BPSD. However, more structuralized and comparable studies with sufficient sample size, adherence monitoring, and sound theoretical basis could be conducted to obtain conclusive findings.

scholarly journals Community interventions with women’s groups to improve women’s and children’s health in India: a mixed-methods systematic review of effects, enablers and barriers

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. e003304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sapna Desai ◽  
Madhavi Misra ◽  
Aikantika Das ◽  
Roopal Jyoti Singh ◽  
Mrignyani Sehgal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Qualitative Studies ◽  
Children's Health ◽  
Children’S Health ◽  
Community Interventions ◽  
Women's Groups ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Women’S Groups

IntroductionIndia is home to over 6 million women’s groups, including self-help groups. There has been no evidence synthesis on whether and how such groups improve women’s and children’s health.MethodsWe did a mixed-methods systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies on women’s groups in India to examine effects on women and children’s health and to identify enablers and barriers to achieving outcomes. We searched 10 databases and included studies published in English from 2000 to 2019 measuring health knowledge, behaviours or outcomes. Our study population included adult women and children under 5 years. We appraised studies using standard risk of bias assessments. We compared intervention effects by level of community participation, scope of capability strengthening (individual, group or community), type of women’s group and social and behaviour change techniques employed. We synthesised quantitative and qualitative studies to identify barriers and enablers related to context, intervention design and implementation, and outcome characteristics.FindingsWe screened 21 380 studies and included 99: 19 randomised controlled trial reports, 25 quasi-experimental study reports and 55 non-experimental studies (27 quantitative and 28 qualitative). Experimental studies provided moderate-quality evidence that health interventions with women’s groups can improve perinatal practices, neonatal survival, immunisation rates and women’s and children’s dietary diversity, and help control vector-borne diseases. Evidence of positive effects was strongest for community mobilisation interventions that built communities’ capabilities and went beyond sharing information. Key enablers were inclusion of vulnerable community members, outcomes that could be reasonably expected to change through community interventions and intensity proportionate to ambition. Barriers included limited time or focus on health, outcomes not relevant to group members and health system constraints.ConclusionInterventions with women’s groups can improve women’s and children’s health in India. The most effective interventions go beyond using groups to disseminate health information and seek to build communities’ capabilities.Trial registration numberThe review was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42019130633.

scholarly journals Between Level Up and Game Over: A Systematic Literature Review of Gamification in Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Manzano-León ◽  
Pablo Camacho-Lazarraga ◽  
Miguel A. Guerrero ◽  
Laura Guerrero-Puerta ◽  
José M. Aguilar-Parra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Current Lines ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Game Elements ◽  
The Impact

Educational gamification consists of the use of game elements and game design techniques in the educational context. The objective of this study is to examine the existing evidence on the impact of educational gamification on student motivation and academic performance in the last five years in order to analyze its distribution over time, educational level, variables, and most used game elements, and know the advantages of its implementation in the classroom. For this, a systematic review is proposed through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology in three multidisciplinary databases, through an exhaustive search with inclusion and exclusion criteria on quantitative experimental studies that explore gamification in educational centers, which provide information about the most current lines of research. Fourteen studies were included in this review. These used experimental or quasi-experimental designs. Most of them report gamification as a valid learning strategy. The results support the conclusion that educational gamification has a potential impact on the academic performance, commitment, and motivation of students. Therefore, this study implies the need to expand research on the needs and challenges of students when learning with gamified techniques.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Digital Interventions for Psychological Well-Being in the Workplace: A Systematic Review Protocol

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Armaou ◽  
Stathis Konstantinidis ◽  
Holly Blake
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
Digital Interventions ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Review Protocol ◽  
Mental Well Being

Objective: Psychological well-being has been associated with desirable individual and organisational outcomes. This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of digital interventions for the improvement of psychological well-being and/or the prevention/management of poor mental well-being in the workplace. Methods: This review protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019142428). Scientific databases including MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and EMBASE will be searched for relevant studies published between January 1990 and July 2019. Studies will be included if they report specific primary and secondary outcomes of digital interventions delivered to adults in the workplace for the improvement of their psychological wellbeing and/or the prevention/management of poor mental well-being and were published in English. Following screening of titles and abstracts, full texts of potentially eligible papers will be screened in duplicate to identify studies that assess the effectiveness of those digital interventions. Discrepancies will be resolved through consensus or by consulting a third reviewer. An integrated narrative synthesis will assess included studies’ findings, and a meta-analysis will be performed if included studies appear to be homogeneous. The “Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias” tool and the JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Quasi-Experimental Studies will be used to appraise included studies. Conclusion: The results of this work will provide recommendations on the use of digital interventions for the promotion of psychological well-being at work. It will also guide the development of future workplace digital interventions and subsequent primary research in this field.

scholarly journals Fibrin Glue Does Not Improve Healing of Gastrointestinal Anastomoses: A Systematic Review

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyge Nordentoft ◽  
Hans-Christian Pommergaard ◽  
Jacob Rosenberg ◽  
Michael Patrick Achiam
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Fibrin Glue ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Gastrointestinal Surgery ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Positive Effect

Background/Aim: Anastomotic leakage remains a frequent and serious complication in gastrointestinal surgery. In order to reduce its incidence, several clinical and experimental studies on anastomotic sealing have been performed. In a number of these studies, the sealing material has been fibrin glue (FG), and the results in individual studies have been varying. The positive effect of anastomotic sealing with FG might be due to the mechanical/physical properties, the increased healing of the anastomoses or both. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing evidence on the healing effects of FG on gastrointestinal anastomoses. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane databases were searched for studies evaluating the healing process of gastrointestinal anastomoses after any kind of FG application. The search period was from 1953 to December 2013. Results: Twenty-eight studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. These studies were all experimental studies, since no human studies used histological or biochemical evaluation of healing. In 7 of the 28 studies, a positive effect of FG on healing was found, while 8 studies reported a negative effect and 11 studies found no effect. Furthermore, 2 studies reported unclear results. The difference in the study outcome was independent of the study design and the type of FG used. Conclusion: In the available studies, FG did not consistently have a positive influence on the healing of gastrointestinal anastomoses. It is consequently plausible that the positive effect of FG sealing of gastrointestinal anastomoses, if there is any, may be due to a mechanical sealing effect rather than due to improved healing per se.

scholarly journals Interventions to improve infant and young child feeding practices in Ethiopia: a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e048700
Author(s):  
Kedir Y. Ahmed ◽  
Kingsley Emwinyore Agho ◽  
Andrew Page ◽  
Amit Arora ◽  
Felix Akpojene Ogbo
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Young Child ◽  
Health Facility ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Child Feeding ◽  
Young Child Feeding ◽  
Infant And Young Child ◽  
Quasi Experimental

ObjectiveIn Ethiopia, despite the implementation of several interventions to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, no published studies have highlighted the most effective IYCF interventions in the country. This systematic review investigated the impacts of various interventions on IYCF in Ethiopia.Source of informationA systematic search was conducted on seven computerised bibliographic databases (Embase, ProQuest Central, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed and CINAHL) to locate experimental or quasi-experimental studies published between the year 2000 and May 2021.Study eligibility criteriaInterventional studies that measured IYCF indicators (early initiation of breast feeding (EIBF), exclusive breast feeding (EBF), the introduction of complementary foods, minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF) and minimum acceptable diet) as outcome variables were included.Study appraisal and synthesisAll included studies were examined for biases related to interventional studies (ie, selection bias, performance bias, attrition bias, detection bias and reporting bias). Author reports of effect size measures were used to narratively report the findings of each study.ResultsOf the 23 eligible studies, 14 studies were quasi-experimental and 9 studies were cluster randomised trials (CRTs). Eight quasi-experimental studies had a serious risk of bias, while two CRTs had a high risk of bias. Four studies for EBF and six studies for EIBF showed significant impacts of policy advocacy, health service strengthening, interpersonal communication, community mobilisation and mass media campaigns. Six studies for MDD and three studies for MMF indicated significant effects of community-level and health facility complementary feeding promotions on infants and young children. Interventions that delivered in combination increased the impacts in improving EIBF, MDD and MMF compared with a single intervention.ConclusionOur review showed that 12 out of 21 eligible studies that implemented in the form of community-level and health facility interventions improved EIBF, EBF, and/or MDD in Ethiopia.Protocol registration numberPROSPERO, CRD42020155519.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Topical Applications on Reducing Uremic Pruritus: A Systematic Review

Jurnal NERS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
Gabriel Wanda Sinawang ◽  
Rohmatul Faizah ◽  
Mohamad Roni Alfaqih ◽  
Andrik Hermanto
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Almond Oil ◽  
Uremic Pruritus ◽  
Chia Seed ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Topical Applications

Introduction: Uremic pruritus is an unpleasant sensation that has been recognized as a frequent complication in patients with chronic kidney disease. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of topical applications for reducing pruritus.Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar to create an integrative 12 articles review focusing on a 10 year period from 2009 to 2018. The language used was English and the studies focused on pruritus, itching, hydration, chronic kidney disease and where the patient did not undergo a kidney transplant. The articles in this systematic review were experimental studies (pre-experimental, true experimental and quasi-experimental).Results: Most of the findings of the studies showed that a topical application for reducing uremic pruritus (clove oil, almond oil, cromolyn sodium 4%, baby oil, sweet almond oil, vinegar and avenasativa, glycerol and paraffin, sericin cream and chia seed oil) can be used as an adjuvant moisturizing agents for pruritis.Conclusion: Topical applications have a positive effect on itching and decreased pruritus. Topical applications are simple, safe, inexpensive and easily applied, so it can be used on many people.

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