The evidence mapping of wasting programmes and their impact along the continuum of care for wasting in low- and middle-income countries: A rapid review protocol

BACKGROUND There has been a rapid growth in the availability and use of mobile health (mHealth) apps around the world in recent years. However, consensus regarding an accepted standard to assess the quality of such apps does not exist. Differing interpretations of quality add to this problem. Consequently, it has become increasingly difficult for healthcare professionals to distinguish apps of high quality from those of lower quality. This exposes both patients and healthcare professionals to unnecessary risk. Despite progress, limited understanding of contributions by those in low- and middle- income countries (LMIC) on this topic exists. As such, the applicability of quality assessment methodologies in LMIC settings remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this rapid review are to; 1) Identify current methodologies within the literature to assess the quality of mHealth apps. 2) Understand what aspects of quality these methodologies address. 3) Determine what input has been made by authors from LMICs. 4) Examine the applicability of such methodologies in low- and middle- income settings. METHODS The review is registered with Prospero (CRD42020205149). A search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus was performed for papers relating to mHealth app quality assessment methodologies, published in English between 2005 and the 28th of December, 2020. A thematic and descriptive analysis of methodologies and papers was performed. RESULTS Electronic database searches identified 841 papers. After the screening process, 53 papers remained for inclusion; 6 proposed novel methodologies which could be used to evaluate mHealth apps of diverse medical areas of interest; 8 proposed methodologies which could be used to assess apps concerned with a specific medical focus; 39 used methodologies developed by other published authors to evaluate the quality of various groups of mHealth apps. Authors of 3 papers were solely affiliated to institutes in LMICs. A further 8 papers had at least one co-author affiliated to an institute in a LMIC. CONCLUSIONS Quality assessment of mHealth apps is complex in nature and at times, subjective. Despite growing research on this topic, to date an all-encompassing, appropriate means for evaluating the quality of mHealth apps does not exist. There has been engagement with authors affiliated to institutes in LMICs, however limited consideration of current generic methodologies for application in a LMIC settings have been identified.

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Experiential learning for primary healthcare workers in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-019-1040-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nkosinothando Chamane ◽

Desmond Kuupiel ◽

Tivani Phosa Mashamba-Thompson

Keyword(s):

Experiential Learning ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Review Protocol ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Understanding interventions for improving routine immunization coverage in children in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/2046-4053-2-106 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Shingai Machingaidze ◽

Eva Rehfuess ◽

Rüdiger von Kries ◽

Gregory D Hussey ◽

Charles S Wiysonge

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Immunization Coverage ◽

Routine Immunization ◽

Systematic Review Protocol ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Review Protocol ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Experiences of menstruation in high income countries: A systematic review, qualitative evidence synthesis and comparison to low- and middle-income countries

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0255001 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. e0255001

Author(s):

Dani Jennifer Barrington ◽

Hannah Jayne Robinson ◽

Emily Wilson ◽

Julie Hennegan

Keyword(s):

Research Policy ◽

Integrated Model ◽

High Income ◽

Qualitative Evidence Synthesis ◽

Middle Income ◽

Negative Experiences ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Protocol Registration ◽

Review Protocol ◽

Low And Middle Income

Background There is growing recognition of the importance of menstruation in achieving health, education, and gender equality for all. New policies in high income countries (HICs) have responded to anecdotal evidence that many struggle to meet their menstrual health needs. Qualitative research has explored lived experiences of menstruating in HICs and can contribute to designing intervention approaches. To inform the growing policy attention to support people who menstruate, here we review and synthesise the existing research. Methods and findings Primary, qualitative studies capturing experiences of menstruation in HICs were eligible for inclusion. Systematic database and hand searching identified 11485 records. Following screening and quality appraisal using the EPPI-Centre checklist, 104 studies (120 publications) detailing the menstrual experiences of over 3800 individuals across sixteen countries were included. We used the integrated model of menstrual experiences developed from studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as a starting framework and deductively and inductively identified antecedents contributing to menstrual experiences; menstrual experiences themselves and impacts of menstrual experiences. Included studies described consistent themes and relationships that fit well with the LMIC integrated model, with modifications to themes and model pathways identified through our analysis. The socio-cultural context heavily shaped menstrual experiences, manifesting in strict behavioural expectations to conceal menstruation and limiting the provision of menstrual materials. Resource limitations contributed to negative experiences, where dissatisfaction with menstrual practices and management environments were expressed along with feelings of disgust if participants felt they failed to manage their menstruation in a discrete, hygienic way. Physical menstrual factors such as pain were commonly associated with negative experiences, with mixed experiences of healthcare reported. Across studies participants described negative impacts of their menstrual experience including increased mental burden and detrimental impacts on participation and personal relationships. Positive experiences were more rarely reported, although relationships between cis-women were sometimes strengthened by shared experiences of menstrual bleeding. Included studies reflected a broad range of disciplines and epistemologies. Many aimed to understand the constructed meanings of menstruation, but few were explicitly designed to inform policy or practice. Few studies focused on socioeconomically disadvantaged groups relevant to new policy efforts. Conclusions We developed an integrated model of menstrual experience in HICs which can be used to inform research, policy and practice decisions by emphasising the pathways through which positive and negative menstrual experiences manifest. Review protocol registration The review protocol registration is PROSPERO: CRD42019157618.

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