Challenging ‘girls only’ publicly funded human papillomavirus vaccination programmes

Scarcity of medical ethics research in allergy and immunology: A review and call to action

Medical ethics is relevant to the clinical practice of allergy and immunology regardless of the type of patient, disease state, or practice setting. When engaging in clinical care, performing research, or enacting policies on the accessibility and distribution of healthcare resources, physicians regularly make and justify decisions using the fundamental principles of medical ethics. Thus, knowledge of these principles is paramount for allergists/immunologists. To date, there has been a shortage of medical ethics research in allergy and immunology. This review describes this scarcity, highlights publication trends over time, and advocates for additional support for research and training in medical ethics with a focus on topics germane to the practice of allergy and immunology.

Analysis of gender perspective in the use of NANDA-I nursing diagnoses: A systematic review

AIM

To identify, describe and analyse the gender perspective in the use of the diagnoses contained in the NANDA-I taxonomy in observational studies published in the scientific literature.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A systematic review has been conducted spanning from 2002 to 2020. The most frequent NANDA-I nursing diagnoses in care plans reported in observational studies, and the defining characteristics and related factors identified for men and women have been described. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA-P) have guided our research. The main findings have been summarized using a descriptive narrative synthesis approach.

RESULTS

Forty-one articles were included in our study. With regard to gender analysis, the percentage of men and women that make up the sample were not specified in all articles, and half of the studies did not identify gender either in the diagnosis label or in their defining characteristics or related factors. Based on the reviewed articles, gender perspectives are not systematically incorporated in the use of the NANDA-I diagnosis. Therefore, gender biases in its use in the scientific literature may exist. This situation poses barriers to determine the health responses that are different and unequal between women and men.

Cost-effectiveness of extending the HPV vaccination to boys: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can have severe consequences both in women and men. Preadolescent girls are vaccinated against HPV worldwide but a gender-neutral vaccination is being adopted only little by little. This systematic review offers an overview of cost-effectiveness of the gender-neutral HPV vaccination.

METHODS

Economic evaluations of gender-neutral HPV vaccination with a two-dose schedule compared with girls-only strategy were systematically searched in Medline, Embase and WOS up to June 2020. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and key parameters were analysed.

RESULTS

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Four studies concluded in favour of the gender-neutral programme, another four found it cost-effective only in alternative scenarios. The most influential parameters are the discount rate of benefits (same as for costs vs reduced), vaccine price (listed vs publicly negotiated) and included health problems (inclusion of oropharyngeal and penile cancers). Sponsorship was not decisive for the final result, but there were differences between industry-funded and independent studies in some cost categories.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence of the cost-effectiveness of extending HPV vaccination to boys is scarce and ambiguous. Before the adoption of such a strategy, countries should carry out context-specific cost-effectiveness analyses, but the decision should also take into account other criteria, such as gender-related equality.

Addressing the Gender Continuum: A Concept Analysis

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this concept analysis aims to bring awareness of the gender continuum to nurse educators and students and break down gender stereotypes.

METHOD

Using the Walker and Avant concept analysis approach, this analysis is based on a transcultural nursing theory framework.

RESULTS

Gender continuum is an umbrella concept, accounting for components beyond how a person identifies. These components include how one conforms to gender roles, expresses gender outwardly, and anatomical or biological characteristics one possesses.

DISCUSSION

Nursing students must recognize gender alternatives beyond male and female to provide culturally competent care for transgender and gender nonconforming patients. The impact of this analysis can result in a better understanding of the gender continuum among nurse educators and the dissemination of knowledge to nursing students. Broader knowledge of this concept can lead to dissolution of gender binaries in health care and more culturally competent care provision for all patients.