scholarly journals Peer Support and Overdose Prevention Responses: A Systematic ‘State-of-the-Art’ Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 12073
Author(s):  
Fiona Mercer ◽  
Joanna Astrid Miler ◽  
Bernie Pauly ◽  
Hannah Carver ◽  
Kristina Hnízdilová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Full Text ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Systematic Search ◽  
Overdose Prevention ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Full Text Review

Overdose prevention for people who use illicit drugs is essential during the current overdose crisis. Peer support is a process whereby individuals with lived or living experience of a particular phenomenon provide support to others by explicitly drawing on these experiences. This review provides a systematic search and evidence synthesis of peer support within overdose prevention interventions for people who use illicit drugs. A systematic search of six databases (CINAHL, SocINDEX, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge) was conducted in November 2020 for papers published in English between 2000 and 2020. Following screening and full-text review, 46 papers met criteria and were included in this review. A thematic analysis approach was used to synthesize themes. Important findings include: the value of peers in creating trusted services; the diversity of peers’ roles; the implications of barriers on peer-involved overdose prevention interventions; and the stress and trauma experienced by peers. Peers play a pivotal role in overdose prevention interventions for people who use illicit drugs and are essential to the acceptability and feasibility of such services. However, peers face considerable challenges within their roles, including trauma and burnout. Future interventions must consider how to support and strengthen peer roles in overdose settings.

scholarly journals Hoots and harm reduction: a qualitative study identifying gaps in overdose prevention among women who smoke drugs

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Bardwell ◽  
Tamar Austin ◽  
Lisa Maher ◽  
Jade Boyd
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Structural Violence ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Overdose Prevention ◽  
Polysubstance Use ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Negative Health Outcomes ◽  
Mixed Gender

Abstract Background Smoking or inhaling illicit drugs can lead to a variety of negative health outcomes, including overdose. However, most overdose prevention interventions, such as supervised consumption services (SCS), prohibit inhalation. In addition, women are underrepresented at SCS and are disproportionately impacted by socio-structural violence. This study examines women’s experiences smoking illicit drugs during an overdose epidemic, including their utilization of a women-only supervised inhalation site. Methods Qualitative research methods included on-site ethnographic observation and semi-structured interviews with 32 participants purposively recruited from the women-only site. Data were coded and analyzed using NVivo 12 and thematic analysis was informed by gendered and socio-structural understandings of violence. Results Participants had preferences for smoking drugs and these were shaped by their limited income, inability to inject, and perceptions of overdose risk. Participants expressed the need for services that attend to women’s specific experiences of gendered, race-based, and structural violence faced within and outside mixed-gender social service settings. Results indicate a need for sanctioned spaces that recognize polysubstance use and drug smoking, accommodated by the women-only SCS. The smoking environment further fostered a sociability where participants could engage in perceived harm reduction through sharing drugs with other women/those in need and were able to respond in the event of an overdose. Conclusions Findings demonstrate the ways in which gendered social and structural environments shape women’s daily experiences using drugs and the need for culturally appropriate interventions that recognize diverse modes of consumption while attending to overdose and violence. Women-only smoking spaces can provide temporary reprieve from some socio-structural harms and build collective capacity to practice harm reduction strategies, including overdose prevention. Women-specific SCS with attention to polysubstance use are needed as well as continued efforts to address the socio-structural harms experienced by women who smoke illicit drugs.

scholarly journals A writer’s guide to education scholarship: Quantitative methodologies for medical education research (part 1)

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent Thoma ◽  
Paola Camorlinga ◽  
Teresa M. Chan ◽  
Andrew Koch Hall ◽  
Aleisha Murnaghan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Full Text ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Reporting Guidelines ◽  
Hand Search ◽  
Quality Markers ◽  
Full Text Review

AbstractBackgroundQuantitative research is one of the many research methods used to help educators advance their understanding of questions in medical education. However, little research has been done on how to succeed in publishing in this area.ObjectiveWe conducted a scoping review to identify key recommendations and reporting guidelines for quantitative educational research and scholarship.MethodsMedline, ERIC, and Google Scholar were searched for English-language articles published between 2006 and January 2016 using the search terms, “research design,” “quantitative,” “quantitative methods,” and “medical education.” A hand search was completed for additional references during the full-text review. Titles/abstracts were reviewed by two authors (BT, PC) and included if they focused on quantitative research in medical education and outlined reporting guidelines, or provided recommendations on conducting quantitative research. One hundred articles were reviewed in parallel with the first 30 used for calibration and the subsequent 70 to calculate Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Two reviewers (BT, PC) conducted a full text review and extracted recommendations and reporting guidelines. A simple thematic analysis summarized the extracted recommendations.ResultsSixty-one articles were reviewed in full, and 157 recommendations were extracted. The thematic analysis identified 86 items, 14 categories, and 3 themes. Fourteen quality evaluation tools and reporting guidelines were found.DiscussionThis paper provides guidance for junior researchers in the form of key quality markers and reporting guidelines. We hope that quantitative researchers in medical education will be informed by the results and that further work will be done to refine the list of recommendations.

A Thematic Analysis of Overdose Prevention and Response Efforts in States Experiencing Declines in Rates of Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths

2021 ◽  
pp. 003335492110268
Author(s):  
Amber B. Robinson ◽  
Nida Ali ◽  
Olga Costa ◽  
Cherie Rooks-Peck ◽  
Amy Sorensen-Alawad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Data Access ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Overdose Prevention ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
Specific Activities ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Overdose Deaths

Objective To address the opioid overdose epidemic, it is important to understand the broad scope of efforts under way in states, particularly states in which the rate of opioid-involved overdose deaths is declining. The primary objective of this study was to examine core elements of overdose prevention activities in 4 states with a high rate of opioid-involved overdose deaths that experienced a decrease in opioid-involved overdose deaths from 2016 to 2017. Methods We identified 5 states experiencing decreases in age-adjusted mortality rates for opioid-involved overdoses from 2016 to 2017 and examined their overdose prevention programs via program narratives developed with collaborators from each state’s overdose prevention program. These program narratives used 10 predetermined categories to organize activities: legislative policies; strategic planning; data access, capacity, and dissemination; capacity building; public-facing resources (eg, web-based dashboards); training resources; enhancements and improvements to prescription drug monitoring programs; linkage to care; treatment; and community-focused initiatives. Using qualitative thematic analysis techniques, core elements and context-specific activities emerged. Results In the predetermined categories of programmatic activities, we identified the following core elements of overdose prevention and response: comprehensive state policies; strategic planning; local engagement; data access, capacity, and dissemination; training of professional audiences (eg, prescribers); treatment infrastructure; and harm reduction. Conclusions The identification of core elements and context-specific activities underscores the importance of implementation and adaptation of evidence-based prevention strategies, interdisciplinary partnerships, and collaborations to address opioid overdose. Further evaluation of these state programs and other overdose prevention efforts in states where mortality rates for opioid-involved overdoses declined should focus on impact, optimal timing, and combinations of program activities during the life span of an overdose prevention program.

scholarly journals Application of Microextraction-Based Techniques for Screening-Controlled Drugs in Forensic Context—A Review

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2168
Author(s):  
Samir M. Ahmad ◽  
Oriana C. Gonçalves ◽  
Mariana N. Oliveira ◽  
Nuno R. Neng ◽  
José M. F. Nogueira
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Controlled Drugs ◽  
Related Compounds ◽  
Innovative Techniques ◽  
Great Simplicity

The analysis of controlled drugs in forensic matrices, i.e., urine, blood, plasma, saliva, and hair, is one of the current hot topics in the clinical and toxicological context. The use of microextraction-based approaches has gained considerable notoriety, mainly due to the great simplicity, cost-benefit, and environmental sustainability. For this reason, the application of these innovative techniques has become more relevant than ever in programs for monitoring priority substances such as the main illicit drugs, e.g., opioids, stimulants, cannabinoids, hallucinogens, dissociative drugs, and related compounds. The present contribution aims to make a comprehensive review on the state-of-the art advantages and future trends on the application of microextraction-based techniques for screening-controlled drugs in the forensic context.

Experiences of Volunteers Supporting Parents Following a Fatal Fetal Anomaly Diagnosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232098783
Author(s):  
Stacey Power ◽  
Keelin O’Donoghue ◽  
Sarah Meaney
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Fetal Anomaly ◽  
Voluntary Organizations ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Bereaved Parents ◽  
Collaborative Working ◽  
And Training

Ireland has had a reliance on voluntary groups to provide peer-to-peer bereavement support. The aim of this study was to explore volunteers’, within these voluntary groups, experiences of supporting parents following a fatal fetal anomaly diagnosis. Purposive sampling was used to recruit volunteers ( n = 17) and face-to-face interviews undertaken. NVivo12 was utilized to assist in the thematic analysis of the data. Five themes; “motivation for altruistic acts,” “being challenged,” “value of education and training,” “supporting volunteers to support others,” and “it is not a sprint, it is a marathon” were identified. Volunteers felt comfortable in their peer-support role but found the lack of knowledge regarding newly implemented termination of pregnancy (TOP) services challenging. The importance of education/training was identified, emphasizing the need for collaboration with health care professionals and other voluntary organizations for support. The findings illustrate the need for collaborative working between health care professionals and volunteers to assist them in supporting bereaved parents.

scholarly journals A scoping review of factors that influence opioid overdose prevention for justice-involved populations

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine E. Grella ◽  
Erika Ostlie ◽  
Christy K. Scott ◽  
Michael L. Dennis ◽  
John Carnevale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Overdose Prevention ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Implementation And Dissemination ◽  
Injection Use ◽  
Release From Prison

Abstract Background There is a high risk of death from opioid overdose following release from prison. Efforts to develop and implement overdose prevention programs for justice-involved populations have increased in recent years. An understanding of the gaps in knowledge on prevention interventions is needed to accelerate development, implementation, and dissemination of effective strategies. Methods A systematic search process identified 43 published papers addressing opioid overdose prevention in criminal justice settings or among justice-involved populations from 2010 to February 2020. Cross-cutting themes were identified, coded and qualitatively analyzed. Results Papers were coded into five categories: acceptability (n = 8), accessibility (n = 4), effectiveness (n = 5), feasibility (n = 7), and participant overdose risk (n = 19). Common themes were: (1) Acceptability of naloxone is associated with injection drug use, overdose history, and perceived risk within the situational context; (2) Accessibility of naloxone is a function of the interface between corrections and community; (3) Evaluations of overdose prevention interventions are few, but generally show increases in knowledge or reductions in opioid overdose; (4) Coordinated efforts are needed to implement prevention interventions, address logistical challenges, and develop linkages between corrections and community providers; (5) Overdose is highest immediately following release from prison or jail, often preceded by service-system interactions, and associated with drug-use severity, injection use, and mental health disorders, as well as risks in the post-release environment. Conclusion Study findings can inform the development of overdose prevention interventions that target justice-involved individuals and policies to support their implementation across criminal justice and community-based service systems.

scholarly journals Neonatal Uterine Bleedings: An Ignored Sign but a Possible Cause of Early-Onset Endometriosis – A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 6-16
Author(s):  
Judith  Dekker ◽  
Isabelle Hooijer ◽  
Johannes C.F. Ket ◽  
Aleksandra Vejnović ◽  
Giuseppe Benagiano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Full Text ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Cochrane Collaboration ◽  
Systematic Search ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Screening Techniques ◽  
Screening Strategies ◽  
The Cochrane Collaboration ◽  
Possible Cause

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Based on the hypothesis that neonatal uterine bleedings (NUB), occurring mostly in the first week after birth, could represent a pathogenetic mechanism for early-onset endometriosis, this systematic review (SR) was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence and screening strategies used to assess and quantify NUB. <b><i>Design:</i></b> Both a SR and a sample literature search in PubMed and Embase were conducted to gather information on NUB prevalence and screening techniques. This was performed by an information specialist. Only full-text articles regarding the assessment of NUB in neonates in the first 2 weeks after birth were included. No limit on language or publication data was used. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> The SR was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019138121). Data was first assessed for eligibility on title and abstract by 2 blinded review authors. Any disagreements were discussed with a third reviewer if necessary. Subsequently, full-text articles were read and assessed for quality using the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Out of 1,988 articles in the systematic search, 10 relevant articles were selected, of which 8 were identified through the systematic search and 2 were found through other sources. The sample search of 4,445 articles did not bring up relevant articles. Results were not comparable due to the heterogeneity of screening techniques, although data showed consensus. The prevalence of visible bleeding ranged from 3.3 to 53.8% and the prevalence of occult bleeding from 25.4 to 96.7%. The occurrence was the highest between the 3rd and 7th day postpartum (PP) and the bleeding lasted for 3–4 days on average. Various screening techniques for detecting NUB were found in the literature, including the use of hemoglobin detection devices (such as Hemastix) in the vaginal vestibulum, comparison of diapers with stains of known volume, colposcopy, and ultrasonography. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The reported prevalence of NUB varies considerably, with a consistent occurrence between the 3rd and the 7th day PP. Literature to assess NUB is dated. The techniques are poorly described and heterogeneous. Future research should focus on prospective cohort studies in order to attempt to correlate NUB cases to (early-onset) endometriosis.

scholarly journals Nature-Based Rehabilitation for Patients with Long-Standing Stress-Related Mental Disorders: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis of Patients’ Experiences

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6897
Author(s):  
Anna Bergenheim ◽  
Gunnar Ahlborg ◽  
Susanne Bernhardsson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Full Text ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Qualitative Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Work Disabilities ◽  
The Cochrane Library

Stress-related mental disorders contribute to work disabilities globally and are a common cause for sick leave. Nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) is a multi-disciplinary approach offered to this patient group on a limited scale. Qualitative studies provide insight into patients’ experiences of NBR, and there is a need to synthesize and assess the certainty of evidence for patient-experienced benefits. The aim was to identify, appraise, and synthesize studies reporting experiences and perceived benefits of participation in multidisciplinary, group-based NBR of adult patients with long-standing stress-related mental disorders. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, APA PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to December 2020. Reference lists of relevant publications were searched. After title and abstract screening, full-text articles were retrieved and assessed for inclusion. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed, and certainty of evidence was appraised according to CERQual. The search yielded 362 unique records; 19 full-text publications were assessed for eligibility, and 5 studies were included in the synthesis. The studies were considered relevant regarding context, population, and intervention, and quality was generally assessed as moderate to high. Extracted texts were inductively coded and organized into 16 descriptive themes and 4 broad, analytical themes: Instilling calm and joy; Needs being met; Gaining new insights; and Personal growth. Experiences and perceived benefits of participating in NBR and spending time in a nature environment were described as positive for recovery. Nine of the descriptive themes were based on explicit results from at least four of the five studies. Confidence in the evidence of the qualitative findings ranged from moderate to low. Moderate-to-low certainty evidence from the included studies suggests that patients with long-standing stress-related mental disorders experience positive health effects from participating in NBR.

Creation of aNovel Preoperative Imaging Review Acronym to Aid in Revision Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

2021 ◽  
pp. 019459982110535
Author(s):  
Omar A. Karadaghy ◽  
Andrew M. Peterson ◽  
Meha Fox ◽  
Jacob White ◽  
Vidur Bhalla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Full Text ◽  
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery ◽  
Sinus Surgery ◽  
Preoperative Imaging ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Surgical Morbidity ◽  
Screening Criteria ◽  
Ovid Medline ◽  
Full Text Review ◽  
Meta Analyses

Objectives (1) Identify anatomic contributions to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) necessitating revision endoscopic sinus surgery (RESS). (2) Create a clinical acronym to guide imaging review prior to RESS that addresses pertinent sites of disease and potential sites of surgical morbidity. Data Sources Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and Medline via Embase.com , Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Google Scholar. Review Methods Systematic search was performed using a combination of standardized terms and keywords. Studies were included if they investigated anatomic contributions to persistent CRS requiring RESS or the relationship between anatomic landmarks and surgical morbidity. Identified studies were screened by title/abstract, followed by full-text review. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were strictly followed. Results In total, 599 articles met screening criteria, 89 were eligible for full-text review, and 27 studies were included in the final review. The identified anatomic sites of interests are broad; the most frequently cited anatomic region was retained anterior ethmoid cells (22/27 studies), followed by posterior ethmoid cells (14/27 studies). Using the consolidated information, a clinical acronym, REVISIONS, was created: Residual uncinate, Ethmoid cells (agger, Haller, supraorbital), Vessels (anterior and posterior ethmoid), Infundibulum, Septal deviation, I (eye) compartment, Onodi cell, Natural os, and Skull base slope and integrity. Conclusions The REVISIONS acronym was developed as a tool to distill the unique anatomic contributions of primary endoscopic sinus surgery failure into a format that can be easily incorporated in preoperative radiologic review and surgical planning to optimize outcomes and minimize complications.

Irritant-Induced Chronic Cough Triggers: A Scoping Review and Clinical Checklist

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Mary J. Sandage ◽  
Elizabeth S. Ostwalt ◽  
Lauren H. Allison ◽  
Grace M. Cutchin ◽  
Mariah E. Morton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Full Text ◽  
Chronic Cough ◽  
English Language ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
International Scope ◽  
Scoping Reviews ◽  
Full Text Review

Purpose The primary aim of this review was to identify environmental irritants known to trigger chronic cough through the life span and develop a comprehensive clinically useful irritant checklist. Method A scoping review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews, checklist, and explanation. English-language, full-text resources were identified through Medline, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Results A total of 1,072 sources were retrieved; of these, 109 were duplicates. Titles of abstracts of 963 articles were screened, with 295 selected for full-text review. Using the exclusion and inclusion criteria listed, 236 articles were considered eligible and 214 different triggers were identified. Triggers were identified from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Occupational exposures were also delineated. Conclusions A clinically useful checklist of both frequently encountered triggers and idiosyncratic or rare triggers was developed. The clinical checklist provides a unique contribution to streamline and standardize clinical assessment of irritant-induced chronic cough. The international scope of this review extends the usefulness of the clinical checklist to clinicians on most continents.

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