Social determinants of the disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19 infection among African Caribbean and Black (ACB) population: A systematic review protocol

The challenges of identifying and eliminating racial disparities regarding the exposure, transmission, prevention, and treatment of communicable diseases within the healthcare system have been a mounting concern since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) populations in Canada represent a fast-expanding and underprivileged community, which have been previously found to have higher susceptibility to communicable diseases and lower sensitivity to intervention measures. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to adequately identify racial patterns in the prevalence and healthcare utilization among the ACB population within the context of the ongoing pandemic. Our proposed study will explore the association between the social determinants of health (SDH) and COVID-19 health outcomes in ACB populations in high-income countries (UK, US, Australia). We will explore the literary evidence through a systematic review (SR) of COVID-19 literature covering the period between December 2019 and October 2020. The objectives include investigating the effect of SDH on the ACB populations’ risk to COVID-19 health outcomes, including COVID-19 infection incidence, severity of disease, hospitalization, mortality and barriers to the treatment and management of COVID-19 for Black people in Canada. In addition, this project aims to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on ACB communities in Ontario by examining the challenges that front-line healthcare workers and administrators have during this pandemic as it pertains to service provisions to ACB communities. A systematic review of original and review studies will be conducted based on the publications on eleven databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, NHS EDD, Global Health, PsychInfo, PubMed, Scopus, Proquest, and Taylor and Francis Online Journals) published between December 2019 to October 2020. Primary outcomes will include the rate of COVID-19 infection. The systematic review will include a meta-analysis of available quantitative data, as well as a narrative synthesis of qualitative studies. This systematic review will be among the first to report racial disparities in COVID-19 infection among the ACB population in Canada. Through synthesizing population data regarding the risk factors on various levels, the findings from this systematic review will provide recommendations for future research and evidence for clinical practitioners and social workers. Overall, a better understanding of the nature and consequences of racial disparities during the pandemic will provide policy directions for effective interventions and resilience-building in the post-pandemic era.

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Prison cell spatial density and infectious and communicable diseases: a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026806 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. e026806 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Paul L Simpson ◽

Melanie Simpson ◽

Armita Adily ◽

Luke Grant ◽

Tony Butler

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Communicable Disease ◽

Correctional Facility ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

The Body ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Spatial Density ◽

Future Research ◽

Advisory Panel ◽

Eligibility Criteria

ObjectiveTo summarise the extent and quality of evidence on the association between prison cell spatial density (a measure of crowding) and infectious and communicable diseases transmission among prisoners.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesEmbase, PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, PsycExtra, ProQuest Databases, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, Index to Legal Periodicals, InformitOnline, Cochrane Library, Criminal Justice Abstracts and ICONDA were searched to 31 December 2018.Eligibility criteriaStudies that reported on the association between prison cell spatial density (measured in square feet or square metres of cell floor area per person) and infectious and communicable diseases in juvenile and adult populations incarcerated in a correctional facility.Data extraction and synthesisA review protocol was developed in consultation with an advisory panel. Two reviewers independently extracted data and used the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) checklist to critically appraise individual studies. An assessment of the overall body of the evidence was conducted using the NHMRC’s Evidence Scale and Statement Form.ResultsA total of 5126 articles were initially identified with seven included in the review from Pakistan (2003), Chile (2016), Nigeria (2012, 2013) and the USA (1980s). Infectious and communicable disease outcomes included pneumococcal disease/acute pneumonia,Mycobacterium tuberculosis, latent tuberculosis infection, infectious skin conditions and contagious disease reporting to the prison clinic. Five articles reported statistically significant positive associations but were countered by associations possibly being explained by chance, bias or confounding factors. Heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis.ConclusionOverall, the body of evidence provides some support for an association between prison cell special density and infectious and communicable diseases, but care should be taken in the interpretation and transferability of the findings. Future research and policy responses should adequately consider prospective mediating factors implicated in associations between cell spatial density and health effects.

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Digital interventions for people living with non-communicable diseases in India: A systematic review of intervention studies and recommendations for future research and development

Digital Health ◽

10.1177/2055207619896153 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 205520761989615 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Md Mahbub Hossain ◽

Samia Tasnim ◽

Rachit Sharma ◽

Abida Sultana ◽

Araish Farzana Shaik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Intervention Studies ◽

Digital Health ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Future Research ◽

Non Communicable Diseases ◽

Digital Interventions

Background A high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is contributing to high mortality and morbidity in India. Recent advancements in digital health interventions, including mHealth, eHealth, and telemedicine, have facilitated patient-centered care for NCDs. Objective This systematic review aims to evaluate the current evidence on digital interventions for people living with NCDs in India and the outcomes of those interventions. Methods We adopted PRISMA guidelines and systematically reviewed articles from MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, and Scopus databases with following criteria: journal articles presenting digital intervention(s) used by people with at least one of the NCDs, reporting health outcomes following the intervention, studies conducted in India among Indian population. Results Among 1669 articles retrieved from multiple sources, only 13 articles met our criteria. Most ( n = 7) studies were conducted in southern states of India; eight studies included patients with diabetes, followed by neuropsychiatric disorders and other NCDs. Five studies recruited participants from tertiary hospitals; six interventions used text-messaging for delivering health services, and 10 studies reported randomized controlled trials. All the studies reported positive health outcomes following the intervention, including better self-management, increased patient–provider communication, improved medication adherence, and reduced disease symptoms. Most studies scored moderate to high in quality assessment checklist of Downs and Black. Conclusion Current evidence suggests a low number of interventions with positive outcomes. Future research should explore avenues of advanced technologies ensuring equitable and sustainable development of digital health interventions for people living with NCDs in India.

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Updated systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the relationship between reported racism and health and well-being for children and youth: a protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043722 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. e043722

Author(s):

Naomi Priest ◽

Kate Doery ◽

Mandy Truong ◽

Shuaijun Guo ◽

Ryan Perry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Research Policy ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Children And Youth ◽

Effect Sizes ◽

Future Research ◽

Critical Determinant ◽

Health And Well Being

IntroductionRacism is a critical determinant of health and health inequities for children and youth. This protocol aims to update the first systematic review conducted by Priest et al (2013), including a meta-analysis of findings. Based on previous empirical data, it is anticipated that child and youth health will be negatively impacted by racism. Findings from this review will provide updated evidence of effect sizes across outcomes and identify moderators and mediators of relationships between racism and health.Methods and analysisThis systematic review and meta-analysis will include studies that examine associations between experiences of racism and racial discrimination with health outcomes of children and youth aged 0–24 years. Exposure measures include self-reported or proxy reported systemic, interpersonal and intrapersonal racism. Outcome measures include general health and well-being, physical health, mental health, biological markers, healthcare utilisation and health behaviours. A comprehensive search of studies from the earliest time available to October 2020 will be conducted. A random effects meta-analysis will examine the average effect of racism on a range of health outcomes. Study-level moderation will test the difference in effect sizes with regard to various sample and exposure characteristics. This review has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.Ethics and disseminationThis review will provide evidence for future research within the field and help to support policy and practice development. Results will be widely disseminated to both academic and non-academic audiences through peer-review publications, community summaries and presentations to research, policy, practice and community audiences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020184055.

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Cognitive assessment tools in Asia: a systematic review

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610215001635 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 189-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Roshaslina Rosli ◽

Maw Pin Tan ◽

William Keith Gray ◽

Pathmawathi Subramanian ◽

Ai-Vyrn Chin

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Assessment ◽

De Novo ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Future Research ◽

Asian Populations ◽

Keywords Dementia

ABSTRACTBackground:The prevalence of dementia is increasing in Asia than in any other continent. However, the applicability of the existing cognitive assessment tools is limited by differences in educational and cultural factors in this setting. We conducted a systematic review of published studies on cognitive assessments tools in Asia. We aimed to rationalize the results of available studies which evaluated the validity of cognitive tools for the detection of cognitive impairment and to identify the issues surrounding the available cognitive impairment screening tools in Asia.Methods:Five electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct) were searched using the keywords dementia Or Alzheimer Or cognitive impairment And screen Or measure Or test Or tool Or instrument Or assessment, and 2,381 articles were obtained.Results:Thirty-eight articles, evaluating 28 tools in seven Asian languages, were included. Twenty-nine (76%) of the studies had been conducted in East Asia with only four studies conducted in South Asia and no study from northern, western, or central Asia or Indochina. Local language translations of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were assessed in 15 and six studies respectively. Only three tools (the Korean Dementia Screening Questionnaire, the Picture-based Memory Intelligence Scale, and the revised Hasegawa Dementia Screen) were derivedde novofrom Asian populations. These tools were assessed in five studies. Highly variable cut-offs were reported for the MMSE (17–29/30) and MoCA (21–26/30), with 13/19 (68%) of studies reporting educational bias.Conclusions:Few cognitive assessment tools have been validated in Asia, with no published validation studies for many Asian nations and languages. In addition, many available tools display educational bias. Future research should include concerted efforts to develop culturally appropriate tools with minimal educational bias.

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Factors affecting patient and physician engagement in remote healthcare for heart failure: a systematic review (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.33366 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ahmed Al-Naher ◽

Jennifer Downing ◽

Kathryn A Scott ◽

Munir Pirmohamed

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Disease Process ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

User Engagement ◽

Remote Care

BACKGROUND Adult chronic heart failure mainly affects an elderly population with multiple co-morbidities that often require frequent medical visits to prevent poor health outcomes. However the heart failure disease process reduces their independence by reducing mobility, exercise tolerance and cognitive decline. Remote care technologies can bridge the gap in care for these patients by allowing them to be followed up within the comfort of their home and encourage their self-care. However, patients, carers and healthcare professionals need to engage with the technology for it to be useful. OBJECTIVE This systematic review explored qualitative primary studies of remote care technologies used in heart failure, to determine the factors that affect user engagement with the technology. This is explored from the perspective of patients, carers, and healthcare professionals. METHODS Relevant studies published between 1/1/1990 – 19/9/2020 were identified from EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, Pubmed, Cochrane library and Scopus. These studies were then synthesized using thematic analysis. Relevant user experiences with remote care were extracted using line-by-line coding. These codes were summarised into secondary codes and core concepts, which were further merged into overarching themes that encapsulate user experience with remote care. RESULTS The review included 47 studies, which led to the generation of 5 overarching themes which affect engagement: (a) ‘Convenience’ relates to time saved by the intervention; (b) ‘Clinical Care’ relates to perceived quality of care and health outcomes; (c) ‘Communication’ involves feedback and interaction between patients, staff and carers; (d) ‘Education’ concerns the tailored information provided; and (e) ‘Ease of Use’ relates to accessibility and technical barriers to engagement. Each theme was applied to each user base of patient, carer and healthcare professional in a different manner. CONCLUSIONS The 5 themes identified highlight aspects of remote care that facilitate engagement, and should be considered in both future design and trials evaluating these technologies.

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Effect of dose administration aids on adherence to self-administered medications: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030536 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. e030536

Author(s):

Kanika Chaudhri ◽

Madeleine Kearney ◽

Richard O Day ◽

Anthony Rodgers ◽

Emily Atkins

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Study Participant ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Dose Administration ◽

Common Solution ◽

The Impact

IntroductionForgetting to take a medication is the most common reason for non-adherence to self-administered medication. Dose administration aids (DAAs) are a simple and common solution to improve unintentional non-adherence for oral tablets. DAAs can be in the form of compartmentalised pill boxes, automated medication dispensing devices, blister packs and sachets packets. This protocol aims to outline the methods that will be used in a systematic review of the current literature to assess the impact of DAAs on adherence to medications and health outcomes.Methods and analysisRandomised controlled trials will be identified through electronic searches in databases including EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library, from the beginning of each database until January 2020. Two reviewers will independently screen studies and extract data using the standardised forms. Data extracted will include general study information, characteristics of the study, participant characteristics, intervention characteristics and outcomes. Primary outcome is to assess the effects of DAAs on medication adherence. Secondary outcome is to evaluate the changes in health outcomes. The risk of bias will be ascertained by two reviewers in parallel using The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. A meta-analysis will be performed if data are homogenous.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval will not be required for this study. The results of the review described within this protocol will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and relevant conference presentations.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018096087

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Diagnostic accuracy of transthoracic echocardiography for pulmonary hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033084 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. e033084 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jin-Rong Ni ◽

Pei-Jing Yan ◽

Shi-Dong Liu ◽

Yuan Hu ◽

Ke-Hu Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Pulmonary Hypertension ◽

Diagnostic Accuracy ◽

Likelihood Ratio ◽

Transthoracic Echocardiography ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Positive Likelihood Ratio ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Lower Sensitivity ◽

Time Interval

ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sources and eligibility criteriaEmbase, Cochrane Library for clinical trials, PubMed and Web of Science were used to search studies from inception to 19 June, 2019. Studies using both TTE and right heart catheterisation (RHC) to diagnose PH were included.Main resultsA total of 27 studies involving 4386 subjects were considered as eligible for analysis. TTE had a pooled sensitivity of 85%, a pooled specificity of 74%, a pooled positive likelihood ratio of 3.2, a pooled negative likelihood ratio of 0.20, a pooled diagnostic OR of 16 and finally an area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.88. The subgroup with the shortest time interval between TTE and RHC had the best diagnostic effect, with sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUC) of 88%, 90% and 0.94, respectively. TTE had lower sensitivity (81%), specificity (61%) and AUC (0.73) in the subgroup of patients with definite lung diseases. Subgroup analysis also showed that different thresholds of TTE resulted in a different diagnostic performance in the diagnosis of PH.ConclusionTTE has a clinical value in diagnosing PH, although it cannot yet replace RHC considered as the gold standard. The accuracy of TTE may be improved by shortening the time interval between TTE and RHC and by developing an appropriate threshold. TTE may not be suitable to assess pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with pulmonary diseases.PROSPERO registration numberPROSPERO CRD42019123289.

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Effectiveness of formal physical therapy following total shoulder arthroplasty: A systematic review

Shoulder & Elbow ◽

10.1177/1758573218812038 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 136-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peter K Edwards ◽

Jay R Ebert ◽

Chris Littlewood ◽

Tim Ackland ◽

Allan Wang

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽

Total Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Future Research ◽

Routine Practice ◽

Post Surgery ◽

Reverse Total Shoulder

Background Physical therapy is considered routine practice following total shoulder arthroplasty. To date, current regimens are based on clinical opinion, with evidence-based recommendations. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of total shoulder arthroplasty physical therapy programmes with a view to inform current clinical practice, as well as to develop a platform upon which future research might be conducted. Methods An electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Library to March 2018 was complemented by hand and citation-searching. Studies were selected in relation to pre-defined criteria. A narrative synthesis was undertaken. Results A total of 506 papers were identified in the electronic database search, with only one study showing moderate evidence of early physical therapy promoting a more rapid return of short-term improvement in function and pain. No studies evaluated the effectiveness of physical therapy programmes in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty procedures. Discussion Restoring range of motion and strength following total shoulder arthroplasty is considered important for patients to obtain a good outcome post-surgery and, when applied early, may offer more rapid recovery. Given the rising incidence of total shoulder arthroplasties, especially reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, there is an urgent need for high-quality, adequately powered randomised controlled trials to determine the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes following these surgeries.

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Systematic Review of the Impact of Cancer Survivorship Care Plans on Health Outcomes and Health Care Delivery

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2018.77.7482 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (20) ◽

pp. 2088-2100 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Paul B. Jacobsen ◽

Antonio P. DeRosa ◽

Tara O. Henderson ◽

Deborah K. Mayer ◽

Chaya S. Moskowitz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Health Care Delivery ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Survivorship Care Plan ◽

Satisfaction With Care ◽

Survivorship Care ◽

Care Plans

Purpose Numerous organizations recommend that patients with cancer receive a survivorship care plan (SCP) comprising a treatment summary and follow-up care plans. Among current barriers to implementation are providers’ concerns about the strength of evidence that SCPs improve outcomes. This systematic review evaluates whether delivery of SCPs has a positive impact on health outcomes and health care delivery for cancer survivors. Methods Randomized and nonrandomized studies evaluating patient-reported outcomes, health care use, and disease outcomes after delivery of SCPs were identified by searching MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Library. Data extracted by independent raters were summarized on the basis of qualitative synthesis. Results Eleven nonrandomized and 13 randomized studies met inclusion criteria. Variability was evident across studies in cancer types, SCP delivery timing and method, SCP recipients and content, SCP-related counseling, and outcomes assessed. Nonrandomized study findings yielded descriptive information on satisfaction with care and reactions to SCPs. Randomized study findings were generally negative for the most commonly assessed outcomes (ie, physical, functional, and psychological well-being); findings were positive in single studies for other outcomes, including amount of information received, satisfaction with care, and physician implementation of recommended care. Conclusion Existing research provides little evidence that SCPs improve health outcomes and health care delivery. Possible explanations include heterogeneity in study designs and the low likelihood that SCP delivery alone would influence distal outcomes. Findings are limited but more positive for proximal outcomes (eg, information received) and for care delivery, particularly when SCPs are accompanied by counseling to prepare survivors for future clinical encounters. Recommendations for future research include focusing to a greater extent on evaluating ways to ensure SCP recommendations are subsequently acted on as part of ongoing care.

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