A systematic review of research methodology in telemedicine studies

We conducted a systematic review of 15 relevant databases for articles about telemedicine. After eliminating articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria, 1615 remained for analysis. Three raters coded the articles to assess various theoretical and methodological variables. Only 5% ( n = 85) of the telemedicine articles made mention of any theory or paradigmatic approach. Studies commonly reported the objectives (96%) but rarely stated a research question or hypothesis (11%). Randomized selection of the subjects was reported in 11% of patient studies and 4% of studies where providers were the subject. There was a wide range in the number of subjects employed, although the majority of studies were based on sample sizes of less than 100. Only 26% of the studies reported a time frame. Until the telemedicine field adheres to agreed standards of reporting methodological details it will be difficult to draw firm conclusions from review studies.

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From Mind to Picture: A Systematic Review on Children’s and Adolescents’ Understanding of the Link between Artists and Pictures

10.31234/osf.io/4ed52 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Romina Vivaldi ◽

Richard P. Jolley ◽

Sarah E Rose

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Theory Of Mind ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Child Psychology ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Developmental Milestones ◽

Italian Language ◽

The World ◽

The Subject

Pictorial symbols have multiple layers of meaning: not only do they represent objects, events and ideas about the world, they also represent the intentions of artists as well as other artist attributes (age, skill, originality and knowledge, mood, style and sentience). Although children’s developmental milestones of pictorial understanding have been the subject of a long-standing debate, their understanding of the relation between artists and pictures has often been neglected. The aim of this article was to conduct a systematic review on children’s and adolescents’ understanding of the relation between artists and pictures. PsycINFO and Web of Science databases were searched for English, Spanish, German, and Italian language empirical studies that examined this link in 2- to 18-year- olds. Forty-two citations (64 studies) from 14 different countries met the inclusion criteria. Results revealed the majority of the studies focused on the understanding of the artist’s intention. Although research on children’s and adolescents’ understanding of other attributes is scarce, and there were inconsistencies across the methodologies used, it seems that they first acknowledge intention and only later become more aware of how artist’s attributes are communicated through intention. The results of the review encourage subsequent research to provide a clearer conceptualised model of child and adolescent understanding of the artist-picture relationship. Such a model should be placed within a wider framework of the network of relationship between the artist, picture, world and beholder. Finally, consideration of how the development of understanding the artist-picture relationship is bi-directionally influenced with other developmental milestones in the child psychology is encouraged, particularly picture-production and theory of mind, and variations in atypical populations.

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The Ipsilesional Upper Limb Can Be Affected following Stroke

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2013/684860 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Gemma H. Kitsos ◽

Isobel J. Hubbard ◽

Alex R. Kitsos ◽

Mark W. Parsons

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Functional Capacity ◽

Control Measure ◽

Research Question ◽

Neurological Dysfunction ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Data Source ◽

The Impact ◽

The Brain

Objective. Neurological dysfunction commonly occurs in the upper limb contralateral to the hemisphere of the brain in which stroke occurs; however, the impact of stroke on function of the ipsilesional upper limb is not well understood. This study aims to systematically review the literature relating to the function of the ipsilesional upper limb following stroke and answer the following research question: Is the ipsilesional upper limb affected by stroke?Data Source. A systematic review was carried out in Medline, Embase, and PubMed.Review Methods. All studies investigating the ipsilesional upper limb following stroke were included and analysed for important characteristics. Outcomes were extracted and summarised.Results. This review captured 27 articles that met the inclusion criteria. All studies provided evidence that the ipsilesional upper limb can be affected following stroke.Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that clinicians should consider ipsilesional upper limb deficits in rehabilitation and address this reduced functional capacity. Furthermore, the ipsilesional upper limb should not be used as a “control” measure of recovery for the contralateral upper limb.

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Is Individual Child Play Therapy Effective?

Research on Social Work Practice ◽

10.1177/1049731519854157 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (7) ◽

pp. 715-723 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

James Drisko ◽

Perri Corvino ◽

Lisa Kelly ◽

Jane Nielson

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Play Therapy ◽

Effect Sizes ◽

Individual Child ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Child Play ◽

Empirically Supported ◽

Wide Range

This article reports a systematic review of the effectiveness of individual child play therapy with children aged 4–12 on several different presenting concerns. From over 5,000 citations, 180 studies were reviewed in detail and 17 met the inclusion criteria. A wide range of results on different concerns were revealed, with effect sizes ranging from d = –0.04 to g = 3.63, though most ranged from .35 to .80. Across most concerns, play therapy was affirmed as an empirically supported therapy.

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Decompression surgery for spinal metastases: a systematic review

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/2016.6.focus16166 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. E2 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Dara Bakar ◽

Joseph E. Tanenbaum ◽

Kevin Phan ◽

Vincent J. Alentado ◽

Michael P. Steinmetz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Prospective Studies ◽

Primary Tumor ◽

Spinal Metastases ◽

Neurological Function ◽

Spinal Tumors ◽

Decompression Surgery ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Posterior Decompression ◽

Wide Range

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on reported outcomes following decompression surgery for spinal metastases. METHODS The authors conducted MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science database searches for studies reporting clinical outcomes and complications associated with decompression surgery for metastatic spinal tumors. Both retrospective and prospective studies were included. After meeting inclusion criteria, articles were categorized based on the following reported outcomes: survival, ambulation, surgical technique, neurological function, primary tumor histology, and miscellaneous outcomes. RESULTS Of the 4148 articles retrieved from databases, 36 met inclusion criteria. Of those included, 8 were prospective studies and 28 were retrospective studies. The year of publication ranged from 1992 to 2015. Study size ranged from 21 to 711 patients. Three studies found that good preoperative Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS ≥ 80%) was a significant predictor of survival. No study reported a significant effect of time-to-surgery following the onset of spinal cord compression symptoms on survival. Three studies reported improvement in neurological function following surgery. The most commonly cited complication was wound infection or dehiscence (22 studies). Eight studies reported that preoperative ambulatory or preoperative motor status was a significant predictor of postoperative ambulatory status. A wide variety of surgical techniques were reported: posterior decompression and stabilization, posterior decompression without stabilization, and posterior decompression with total or subtotal tumor resection. Although a wide range of functional scales were used to assess neurological outcomes, four studies used the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale to assess neurological function. Four studies reported the effects of radiation therapy and local disease control for spinal metastases. Two studies reported that the type of treatment was not significantly associated with the rate of local control. The most commonly reported primary tumor types included lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, renal cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer. CONCLUSIONS This study reports a systematic review of the literature on decompression surgery for spinal metastases. The results of this study can help educate surgeons on the previously published predictors of outcomes following decompression surgery for metastatic spinal disease. However, the authors also identify significant gaps in the literature and the need for future studies investigating the optimal practice with regard to decompression surgery for spinal metastases.

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Valuing the impact of health and social care programs using social return on investment analysis: how have academics advanced the methodology? A systematic review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029789 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. e029789 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Claire Louise Hutchinson ◽

Angela Berndt ◽

Deborah Forsythe ◽

Susan Gilbert-Hunt ◽

Stacey George ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Return On Investment ◽

Social Care ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Research Question ◽

Social Return On Investment ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesTo identify how social return on investment (SROI) analysis—traditionally used by business consultants—has been interpreted, used and innovated by academics in the health and social care sector and to assess the quality of peer-reviewed SROI studies in this sector.DesignSystematic review.SettingsCommunity and residential settings.ParticipantsA wide range of demographic groups and age groups.ResultsThe following databases were searched: Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Econlit, Medline, PsychINFO, Embase, Emerald, Social Care Online and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Limited uptake of SROI methodology by academics was found in the health and social care sector. From 868 papers screened, 8 studies met the criteria for inclusion in this systematic review. Study quality was found to be highly variable, ranging from 38% to 90% based on scores from a purpose-designed quality assessment tool. In general, relatively high consistency and clarity was observed in the reporting of the research question, reasons for using this methodology and justifying the need for the study. However, weaknesses were observed in other areas including justifying stakeholders, reporting sample sizes, undertaking sensitivity analysis and reporting unexpected or negative outcomes. Most papers cited links to additional materials to aid in reporting. There was little evidence that academics had innovated or advanced the methodology beyond that outlined in a much-cited SROI guide.ConclusionAcademics have thus far been slow to adopt SROI methodology in the evaluation of health and social care interventions, and there is little evidence of innovation and development of the methodology. The word count requirements of peer-reviewed journals may make it difficult for authors to be fully transparent about the details of their studies, potentially impacting the quality of reporting in those studies published in these journals.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018080195.

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EFFECT OF PILATES METHOD ON PHYSICAL FITNESS RELATED TO HEALTH IN THE ELDERLY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte ◽

10.1590/1517-869220192501193516 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 76-87

Author(s):

Gabrielle Critine Moura Fernandes Pucci ◽

Eduardo Borba Neves ◽

Francisco José Félix Saavedra

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

The Elderly ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Pilates Method ◽

Functional Autonomy ◽

Selection Of

ABSTRACT The objective of this review was to analyze the evidence of Pilates in physical fitness related to health in the elderly. The article indexing databases (Pubmed, Medline, Science Direct, Scielo, Lilacs, and Cochrane) were reviewed along with the Pilates, elderly and aging descriptors. A total of 41 studies with a randomized experimental and quasi-experimental design met the inclusion criteria. The selection of the studies was carried out by two researchers and the quality of the articles was assessed using the PEDro scale. Interventions ranged from 4-24 weeks with 1-3 sessions/week, and balance was the most investigated variable. The studies included in this review indicate that Pilates improves health status in the elderly, promoting gains in balance, muscle strength, flexibility, functional autonomy, muscular endurance, body composition and aerobic endurance. Despite these findings, some variables need to be further investigated. Level of Evidence II; Systematic review.

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Functional Status Assessment of COPD Based on Ability to Perform Daily Living Activities: A Systematic Review of Paper and Pencil Instruments

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v8n3p210 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 210 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Fateme Monjazebi ◽

Asghar Dalvandi ◽

Abbas Ebadi ◽

Hamid Reza Khankeh ◽

Mehdi Rahgozar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Activities Of Daily Living ◽

Daily Living ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Health Measurement ◽

Manual Search ◽

Paper And Pencil ◽

Selection Of

CONTEXT: Activity of daily living (ADL) is an important predictor of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Increasing ADL is important in patients with COPD and assessment of ADL is one of the best ways to evaluate the status of COPD patients. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to provide an overview of the psychometric properties of paper and pencil instruments measuring ADL in patients with COPD. DATA SOURCES: English papers published from 1980 to 2014 regarding ADL in patients with COPD were searched in Web of Science, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane, PubMed, ProQuest, and CINAHL databases using the following keywords: “COPD”, “ADL”, “activities of daily living”, “daily activities”, “instrument”, “questionnaire”, “paper-and-pencil instruments”, and “measure”. Following the Internet search, manual search was also done to find article references. STUDY SELECTION: A total of 186 articles were found. Of those, 31 met the inclusion criteria. Full texts of articles meeting the inclusion criteria were studied. Consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments"(COSMIN) were used to assess the quality of the studies. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction form based on research aims developed by researchers and psychometric experts, with 17 questions was used. RESULTS: In these articles, 14 pen and paper instruments were identified for examining ADL in patients with COPD; of which, 4 dealt directly with ADL while 9 assessed other criteria i.e. dyspnea as ADL indicator. The majority of instruments only dealt with two main dimensions of ADL: Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), and did not consider Advanced Activities of Daily Living (AADL), which is influenced by cultural and motivational factors. CONCLUSION: Despite several ADL instruments identified, complete psychometric processes have only been done in a few of them. Selection of the appropriate instrument should focus on the aim of the study and the target construct.

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In my remembered country: what poetry tells us about the changing perceptions of volcanoes between the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries

Geoscience Communication ◽

10.5194/gc-3-73-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 73-87

Author(s):

Arianna Soldati ◽

Sam Illingworth

Keyword(s):

English Language ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Research Question ◽

Human Perception ◽

Time Frame ◽

Negative Events ◽

Culturally Appropriate ◽

Definition Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Selection Of

Abstract. In this study we investigate what poetry written about volcanoes from the 1800s to the present day reveals about the relationship between volcanoes and the societies and times represented by poets who wrote about them, including how it evolved over that time frame. In order to address this research question, we conducted a qualitative content analysis of a selection of 34 English-language poems written about human–volcano interactions. Firstly, we identified the overall connotation of each poem. Then, we recognised specific emerging themes and grouped them in categories. Additionally, we performed a quantitative analysis of the frequency with which each category occurs throughout the decades of the dataset. This analysis reveals that a spiritual element is often present in poetry about volcanoes, transcending both the creative and destructive power that they exert. Furthermore, the human–volcano relationship is especially centred around the sense of identity that volcanoes provide to humans, which may follow from both positive and negative events. These results highlight the suitability of poetry as a means to explore the human perception of geologic phenomena. Additionally, our findings may be relevant to the definition of culturally appropriate communication strategies with communities living near active volcanoes.

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A Systematic Review on Blockchain in Education: Opportunities and Challenges

Nepalese Journal of Management Science and Research ◽

10.53056/njmsr-2021.001.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (i) ◽

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Conceptual Knowledge ◽

Research Question ◽

Knowledge Bases ◽

Vital Role ◽

Multiple Sources ◽

Blockchain Technology ◽

Education Industry ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Selection Of

This study focuses on blockchain as an emerging technology regarding its use to restructure the systems and advance education upon quality outcomes. What are the benefits of integrating blockchain in education concerning system reformation and advancement in developing better educational processes for all-encompassing learning outcomes? With the recent developments of blockchain applications across multiple domains, the education industry seems to be benefited from this technology to a considerable degree. Transcripts and certificates play a vital role in an individual’s life so it needs to be stored in a tamper-proof and long-term available ledger. In pursuant to addressing the aforestated question, this study brings information regarding what blockchain technology is, how it functions and what its uses are if it comes to integrating with education at different levels. This may include reviewing the conceptual/knowledge bases, research and development studies, and sources that introduce blockchain including its features but with a special highlight on how it has been integrated into the education sector especially in an innovative situations. To this end, this study was designed to provide a systematic review of all the literature focused on decentralized ledger technology. Multiple sources were reviewed following a systematic pattern that allows selection of relevant sources, sorting out information being guided by the research question, and making the final selection of required information that connects with what and how of Blockchain in education. Keywords: Blockchain, Education, Ledgers, Certificate, Decentralized technology

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“Вовча зоря” and “Сталінка”: The lost generation through the eyes of Yevgen Pashkovsky and Oles Ulyanenko

Przegląd Wschodnioeuropejski ◽

10.31648/pw.6504 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 217-226

Author(s):

Anna Horniatko-Szumiłowicz

Keyword(s):

Theoretical Approach ◽

Research Methodology ◽

Analytical Method ◽

Research Question ◽

Source Material ◽

Comparative Approach ◽

Lost Generation ◽

Historical Approach ◽

Contemporary Novels ◽

The Subject

The subject of the paper is to compare the two contemporary novels – “Вовча зоря” (1991) and “Сталінка” (1994). The research question concernes the portrayal of the lost generation by the two prominent Ukrainian writers, also authors of the aforementioned novels – Y. Pashkovsky (b. 1962) and O. Ulyanenko (1962-2010). The research methodology includes the historical approach, the theoretical approach, the analytical method and the comparative approach. Research involved an analysis of source material, specifically the avalaible critical pieces (papers, reviews, interviews). Results learned from the research allow us to determine that despite a few differences in world creation and style, both writers accurately portrayed the Ukrainian lost generation of the 1980s, including their misplaced values and lost direction.

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