Mapping evidence on HIV status awareness among key and vulnerable populations in sub-Sahara Africa: a scoping review protocol

Abstract Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) continue to be a major public health issue, especially in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). Literature shows significant HIV status awareness, testing, and treatment have generally improved among the population since the inception of the UNAIDS 90:90:90 programme. Despite this, it is possible literature gaps exist that require future research to inform in-country programmes to improve the gains post-UNAIDS 90:90:90 programme. This study, therefore, aims to synthesize literature and describe the evidence on HIV status awareness among key and vulnerable populations in SSA focusing on the first UNAIDS 90 since it is essential for treatment initiation. Method This systematic scoping review will be guided by the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and improved by Levac and colleagues. Literature searches will be conducted in PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Science Direct from 2016 to 2020. A snowball approach will also be used to search for relevant articles from the reference of all included studies. This study will include both published and grey literature, articles that include HIV key and vulnerable populations, HIV status awareness, and evidence from SSA countries. Two reviewers will independently conduct the abstract and full-text article screening as well as pilot the data extraction form. Thematic content analysis and a summary of the themes and sub-themes will be reported narratively. Discussions The evidence that will be provided by this study may be useful to inform in-country programmes to improve the gains made post-UNAIDS 90:90:90 programme from 2021 onwards. This study also anticipates identifying literature gaps to guide researchers interested in this field of study in the future. Peer review journals, policy briefs, and conference platforms will be used to disseminate this study’s findings.

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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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Could the Perioperative Use of Opioids Influence Cancer Outcomes After Surgery? A Scoping Review Protocol

10.21203/rs.3.rs-100212/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Marco Cascella ◽

Arturo Cuomo ◽

Francesca Bifulco ◽

Barbara Di Caprio ◽

Rosanna Accardo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

English Language ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Cancer Recurrence ◽

Open Science ◽

Future Research ◽

Cancer Outcomes ◽

Review Protocol ◽

Science Framework

Abstract BackgroundOpioids are commonly used for the treatment of cancer and non-cancer pain, and during and after general anesthesia. Because preclinical studies underlined a potential opioid-mediated immunosuppression, it was postulated that the perioperative administration of opioids could influence cancer outcomes after surgery. Nevertheless, clinical data have been extrapolated mainly from retrospective analyses. Thus, the precise link between perioperative opioids use and cancer recurrence/metastasis or cancer-related mortality/morbidity remains unresolved.Methods/designThis scoping review is planned following the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations. The authors will conduct a literature review through the PRISMA statement using PubMed and EMBASE databases; the Grey literature will be explored using Google Scholar, Conference Proceedings Citation Index (via Web of Science) and Open Grey. The search strategy will be limited to articles published in the English language and to human studies. The database searches are planned from the inception to November 2020. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text screening of potentially relevant articles with standardized data extraction. Any disagreement for the inclusion between the two reviewers will be discussed with a third reviewer.DiscussionThe review aim to map the available literature focusing on a possible association between the perioperative opioids use and cancer outcomes in patients undergoing surgery. The proposed approach will allow to identify and analyze the knowledge gap in the field and, serving as a prerequisite for future research including systematic reviews and clinical studies.Scoping review registrationOpen Science Framework https://osf.io/ng57c/ DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/NG57C

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Hypnotherapy for Procedural Pain and Distress in Children: A scoping Review Protocol

Pain Medicine ◽

10.1093/pm/pnab038 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Daly Geagea ◽

Zephanie Tyack ◽

Roy Kimble ◽

Lars Eriksson ◽

Vince Polito ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Procedural Pain ◽

Future Research ◽

Theoretical Frameworks ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Pharmacological Agents ◽

Review Protocol ◽

Meta Analyses

Abstract Objective Inadequately treated pain and distress elicited by medical procedures can put children at higher risks of acute and chronic biopsychosocial sequelae. Children can benefit from hypnotherapy, a psychological tailored intervention, as an adjunct to pharmacological agents to address the multiple components of pain and distress. Despite providing evidence on the effectiveness and potential superiority of hypnotherapy to other psychological interventions, research on hypnotherapy for paediatric procedural pain and distress has been predominantly limited to oncology and needle procedures. Plus, there is a lack of reporting of intervention manuals, factors influencing hypnotic responding, pain unpleasantness outcomes, theoretical frameworks, adverse events, as well as barriers and facilitators to the feasibility of delivering the intervention and study procedures. The proposed review aims to map the range and nature of the evidence on hypnotherapy for procedural pain and distress in children to identify gaps in literature and areas requiring further investigation. Methods This review will follow the Arksey and O'Malley (2005) methodology and incorporate additional scoping review recommendations by The Joanna Briggs Institute and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. Relevant studies will be identified through searching published literature databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science) and grey literature in addition to hand-searching of reference lists and key journals. Two authors will independently screen titles and abstracts of search results followed by full-texts review against eligibility criteria. Conclusion Findings are anticipated to guide future research and inform the development of tailored hypnotic interventions in children.

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Interventions to improve adherence to reporting guidelines in health research: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017551 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. e017551 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

David Blanco ◽

Jamie J Kirkham ◽

Douglas G Altman ◽

David Moher ◽

Isabelle Boutron ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Health Research ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Reporting Guidelines ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Improve Compliance ◽

Review Protocol ◽

Journal Policies ◽

Research Stage

IntroductionThere is evidence that the use of some reporting guidelines, such as the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials, is associated with improved completeness of reporting in health research. However, the current levels of adherence to reporting guidelines are suboptimal. Over the last few years, several actions aiming to improve compliance with reporting guidelines have been taken and proposed. We will conduct a scoping review of interventions to improve adherence to reporting guidelines in health research that have been evaluated or suggested, in order to inform future interventions.Methods and analysisOur review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methods manual. We will search for relevant studies in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. Moreover, we will carry out lateral searches from the reference lists of the included studies, as well as from the lists of articles citing the included ones. One reviewer will screen the full list, which will be randomly split into two halves and independently screened by the other two reviewers. Two reviewers will perform data extraction independently. Discrepancies will be solved through discussion. In addition, this search strategy will be supplemented by a grey literature search. The interventions found will be classified as assessed or suggested, as well as according to different criteria, in relation to their target (journal policies, journal editors, authors, reviewers, funders, ethical boards or others) or the research stage at which they are performed (design, conducting, reporting or peer review). Descriptive statistical analysis will be performed.Ethics and disseminationA paper summarising the findings from this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. This scoping review will contribute to a better understanding and a broader perspective on how the problem of adhering better to reporting guidelines has been tackled so far. This could be a major first step towards developing future strategies to improve compliance with reporting guidelines in health research.

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Protein status of people with phenylketonuria: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049883 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. e049883

Author(s):

Sarah Firman ◽

Radha Ramachandran ◽

Kevin Whelan ◽

Oliver C Witard ◽

Majella O’Keeffe

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Grey Literature ◽

The Body ◽

Future Research ◽

Advisory Group ◽

Protein Status ◽

Ethical Approval ◽

Review Protocol ◽

The Impact

IntroductionPhenylketonuria (PKU) is a disorder of protein metabolism resulting in an accumulation of phenylalanine in the body. Dietary management consists of altering the sources of ingested protein to limit phenylalanine intake. Current dietary protein guidelines for PKU are based on limited scientific evidence, thus it remains unclear whether current practice leads to optimal protein status in people with PKU. To date, no attempt has been made to systematically evaluate the protein status of people with PKU, using a combination of validated anthropometric, biochemical and functional measurement tools. Furthermore, factors known to influence protein status in the general population warrant consideration when determining protein status in individuals with PKU, alongside factors unique to PKU such as the type of protein substitute consumed. Understanding the impact of these variables on protein status is crucial to developing a personalised approach to protein recommendations for optimising health and functional outcomes in people with PKU. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review is to examine existing evidence regarding the protein status of people with PKU, and to investigate the nutritional and lifestyle variables that influence protein status.Methods and analysisThis review will be guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, along with guidance from Levac et al, Pawliuk et al and the Joanna Briggs Institute. The following databases will be searched: MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science and Scopus, alongside grey literature. Identified literature will be assessed by two independent reviewers for inclusion. Descriptive numerical analysis will be performed and a narrative summary will accompany the tabulated results describing how study findings relate to the review questions.Ethics and disseminationThis review protocol does not require ethical approval. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication, presented at relevant conferences, and shared with a patient research advisory group to inform discussions on future research.

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Patient and public involvement in stroke research: a scoping review protocol

HRB Open Research ◽

10.12688/hrbopenres.13449.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 118

Author(s):

Patricia Hall ◽

Thilo Kroll ◽

Julianne Hickey ◽

Diarmuid Stokes ◽

Olive Lennon

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Public Involvement ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Research Question ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Healthcare Research ◽

Stroke Research ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Review Protocol ◽

The Impact

Background: Growing consensus supports public and patient involvement (PPI) in research as the lived experience of patients, family carers and users of health and social care services bring unique insights to healthcare research. The impact and burden of stroke present ongoing challenges for those living with its consequences and could potentially limit PPI activity. This review aims to explore PPI in published stroke research to identify and describe the extent, nature and design of PPI activities, the type/s of studies involved and the profile of PPI participants engaged in stroke research. Methods: This systematic scoping review, guided by the Arksey & O’Malley five step framework, will be reported according to the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. PPI is embedded at each stage of this proposed scoping review from conceptualisation, participation, contribution and collaboration. The Population, Concept, Context (PCC) structure defines the research question which asks - How is PPI in stroke research currently being conducted and how do the study authors report their PPI activities and its impact? A comprehensive range of electronic databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsychINFO and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews will generate a broad range of studies. Grey literature (e.g. OpenGrey, Leanus) and internationally recognised stroke organisation websites will be searched for additional research reports. Data extraction will adhere to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, with results collated and mapped to the research cycle stage/s. Conclusions: The outlined scoping review protocol will comprehensively identify and map the existing scientific literature that reports PPI in stroke research. Findings will be presented in relation to PPI conceptualisation, participant profiles and activities in stroke research, volume, type and range of approaches. Knowledge gaps and future priorities for PPI in stroke research will be identified.

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Mapping Evidence on Global Perceptions of Environmental Sustainability amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review Protocol

10.21203/rs.3.rs-148450/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

PETER ANSU-MENSAH ◽

Monica Ansu-Mensah ◽

Desmond Kuupiel

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

World Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Regulatory Bodies ◽

Review Protocol ◽

Government Websites ◽

Health Organization

Abstract Background: Identifying and addressing research gaps on environmental sustainability in this striving time of COVID-19, it is imperative to ensure proper waste management disposal, efficient use of energy as well as judicious use of transport in order to achieve the SDGs 2030.Aim: The proposed scoping review is aimed at mapping evidence on global perceptions of environmental sustainability amidst COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The proposed study will be guided by the enhanced version of Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, and Levac et al. 2010 recommendations together with the 2015 Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. A comprehensive keywords search for relevant studies presenting evidence of environmental sustainability during COVID-19 pandemic will be conducted with the following databases: SCOPUS, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, and PubMed. Literature from university repositories and international organization such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and government websites relevant to the proposed study will also be retrieved. The proposed review will use the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis: Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) to present the results of the study. For data extraction in a content thematic manner of analysis, NVivo version 11 software package will be used. A mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) version 2018 will be employed to appraise the quality of all the included studies. Discussion: We are hopeful that the results of the proposed study will inform future research and unveil evidence-based information to report potential environmental sustainability issues that may arise in this new phase of COVID-19 pandemic. It also anticipated that the proposed study will enable policy and regulatory bodies to implement new strategies to achieve the SDGs inclusive of COVID-19 pandemic.

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Factors related to the adoption and adherence of physical activity mobile applications by older people: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052414 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e052414

Author(s):

Lorena Jorge Lorenzi ◽

Letícia Fernanda Belo ◽

David Mark Frohlich ◽

Victor Zuniga Dourado ◽

Paula Costa Castro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older People ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Mobile Applications ◽

Full Text ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Ethical Approval ◽

Data Extraction Tool ◽

Review Protocol

IntroductionAgeing is a natural process marked by physiological changes and declines in functional capacity. One strategy to encourage healthy habits in older people is the use of applications on mobile devices to promote physical activity (PA). An immediate challenge is for these applications to be accessible to older people themselves, while a second challenge is to retain their interest and engagement in connection with PA itself. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to map the factors related to the adoption and adherence of PA mobile applications by older people.Methods and analysisFive databases will be searched where articles and reviews, available between 2010 and present, in English, Portuguese or Spanish, at full text, will be included. In addition, two additional strategies will be performed, including grey literature. The search terms adoption, adherence, factors, mobile application, PA, older people and other terms related to them will be used in the search strategy. This review will include studies that identify factors related to the adoption and adherence to PA mobile applications by people over 60 years. The selection of studies will be carried out by two reviewers in five stages: identification of studies and duplicate removal; pilot test; selection by reading abstracts; inclusion by reading the full text and search in additional sources. Disagreements will be resolved by a third reviewer. Data will be extracted using a data extraction tool. Quantitative data will be described in a narrative manner and qualitative data will be categorised through inductive thematic analysis.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this scoping review. Plans for the dissemination of the review include the presentation of the results at relevant scientific conferences and the submission and publication in significant journals.

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Evaluating Healthcare Governance Policies: A Scoping Review Protocol

10.21203/rs.3.rs-927138/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Heather Finnegan ◽

Gayle Halas ◽

Caroline Monnin ◽

Allie Peckham ◽

Malcolm Doupe

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Keyword Search ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Future Research ◽

Research Directions ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Review Protocol ◽

Future Research Directions ◽

Healthcare Interventions ◽

Meta Analyses

Abstract Background: Governance policies provide structures and processes through which healthcare systems are managed. Existing literature defines strategies to evaluate operational (e.g. program) and clinical (e.g., patient-provider) healthcare interventions; the equivalent strategies to evaluate governance policies are less well developed. The aim of the proposed scoping review is to examine the extent, nature and range of approaches used to evaluate healthcare governance policies.Methods: Informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and the Arksey and O’Malley framework, the proposed study will conduct a keyword search of both health and social sciences databases, including Ageline (EBSCOhost 1978-2020), CINAHL with Full Text (EBSCOhost 1981-2020), EconLIT (EBSCOhost 1886-2020), Medline (Ovid 1946-2020), Global Health (Ovid 1973-2020) and Scopus (1970-2020). The grey literature – Public Documents (desLibris), Theses & Dissertations (ProQuest) and Google Advanced – will also be searched to ensure comprehensive identification of studies. Any evaluation of healthcare governance policies published in English will be included. Findings will be presented using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses: Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRIMSA-ScR). Our cross-disciplinary team will critically assess the identified literature. Discussion: Findings from the proposed scoping review will provide insight into the ways in which healthcare governance policies have been evaluated and offer future research directions. Based on initial literature scans and consultations with policy workers, we expect to demonstrate the need for more robust (i.e., deliberate, methodical) approaches to evaluate healthcare governance policies, which in turn requires meaningful partnerships to enrich the transactional space between research and policy.

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Patients’ perceptions of maternal healthcare acceptability: A scoping review protocol

10.31219/osf.io/n46gj ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joy Blaise Bucyibaruta ◽

Leah Maidment ◽

Carl Heese ◽

Mmapheko Doriccah Peu ◽

Lesley Bamford ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Search Strategy ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Future Research ◽

Research Projects ◽

Maternal Healthcare ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Review Protocol ◽

Shed Light

Healthcare acceptability is an important concept in health sciences including psychology, yet, it remains controversial and poorly understood by all health researchers. Healthcare acceptability cuts across all health disciplines and refers to human behavioural constructs such as attitude, trust and respect, which are expressed when patients and health professionals interact. Many studies have described the acceptability of maternal healthcare, but there is no universally accepted definition. We describe a protocol for a scoping review of existing literature to shed-light-on the definition and conceptualisation of maternal healthcare acceptability from patients’ perspectives. We will employ a search strategy, with eligibility criteria, to search for relevant articles from electronic and grey literature. Two researchers will independently screen the retrieved articles using Rayyan software and chart data from included articles. An inter-reviewer agreement of 80% will be deemed appropriate. We will interpret key findings in line with available evidence, while being consistent with the research purpose. We will discuss the study’s limitations, implications for practice and propose future research projects.

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