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Kuitunen I. Characterising umbrella reviews in paediatrics: A systematic analysis. Acta Paediatr 2024. [PMID: 39367681 DOI: 10.1111/apa.17438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Revised: 09/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024]
Abstract
AIM To characterise typical practices in conducting and reporting umbrella reviews in paediatrics. METHODS PubMed database was searched for umbrella reviews focusing on children (0-18 years) published from 1 January 2020 to 15 June 2024, regardless of the speciality. The included studies were assessed for reporting practices, result summarisation and critical appraisal methods. RESULTS Ninety-nine eligible umbrella reviews were included, of which 49 focused on interventions and 50 focused on epidemiology. The median number of included reviews in the umbrella reviews was 18 (range = 3-302), and statistical synthesis was performed in 32 studies. The most frequently used tool for critical appraisal of the included reviews was the updated Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR-2) tool (n = 56); the original AMSTAR-1 tool was used in seven reviews, and the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews tool was used in 12 reviews. Evidence certainty was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework in 14 reviews and by the Ioannidis criteria in 18 reviews. CONCLUSION Umbrella reviews have heterogeneous characteristics in terms of reporting practices. Greater adherence to guidelines on conducting and reporting umbrella reviews is needed, particularly for improving critical appraisal methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilari Kuitunen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine and Kuopio Pediatric Research Unit, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
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Giok KC, Veettil SK, Menon RK. Risk factors for Peri-implantitis: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies and assessment of biases. J Dent 2024; 146:105065. [PMID: 38762079 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To perform a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of the findings from previously published meta-analyses and to assess existing biases. DATA/SOURCES A search was conducted for meta-analyses of observational studies investigating the association between any risk factor and peri‑implantitis in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Epistemonikos, from inception until October 2023 (PROSPERO: CRD42024512408). STUDY SELECTION From a total of 5002 publications, 51 full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility, and 12 articles that described 41 unique meta-analyses evaluating the association between risk factors and periimplantitis were selected. Among 41 associations, 24 associations were significant. None of the associations were graded as convincing evidence. Two associations, presence of periodontitis (OR = 3.84 [95 % CI 2.58,5.72]) and cigarette smoking (RR=2.07 [95 % CI 1.41,3.04]) were graded as highly suggestive. Eight associations, diabetes mellitus, hyperglycaemia, lack of prophylaxis, history of chronic periodontal disease, ongoing or history of periodontal disease, implants located in the anterior region of the jaw (maxillary and mandibular), osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene polymorphisms, and lack of keratinized mucosal width were graded as suggestive evidence. CONCLUSIONS Periodontitis and cigarette smoking are highly suggestive risk factors for peri‑implantitis. The remaining risk factors which are suggestive require more high-quality studies to be performed to upgrade the level of evidence. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The highly suggestive and suggestive risk factors for peri‑implantitis summarized in this umbrella review should be rigorously assessed, monitored and managed by clinicians to reduce the risk peri‑implantitis, as well as to form part of the preoperative consent process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koay Chun Giok
- School of Dentistry, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
| | - Sajesh K Veettil
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia; School of Medicine, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rohit Kunnath Menon
- Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
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Kenyon E, DeBoer S, El-Khoury R, La D, Saville B, Gillis H, Alcock G, Miller E, Sadi J. Identifying competencies in advanced healthcare practice: an umbrella review. ADVANCES IN HEALTH SCIENCES EDUCATION : THEORY AND PRACTICE 2024:10.1007/s10459-024-10349-9. [PMID: 38886319 DOI: 10.1007/s10459-024-10349-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The four pillars of advanced healthcare practice (AHCP) are clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research. It is unclear, however; how competencies of AHCP as defined by individual health professions relate to these pillars. Addressing this knowledge gap will help to facilitate the operationalization of AHCP as a concept and help inform educational curricula. To identify existing competencies across AHCP literature and examine how they relate to the four pillars of a multi-professional AHCP framework. An umbrella review was conducted in accordance with JBI methodology. The electronic search for published and grey literature was completed using CINAHL, Scopus, Medline (OVID), Embase (OVID), ERIC (OVID) and Google. Secondary reviews and research syntheses of master level AHCP programs published after 1990 in either English or French were considered for inclusion and results were analyzed using a directed content analysis. Seventeen publications detailing 620 individual competencies were included. AHCP competencies were described across four professions and 22 countries, with many publications related to nursing and AHCP in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Many retrieved competencies were found to map to the four pillars of AHCP, although clinical practice and leadership and management pillars were addressed more often. Competencies of AHCP are generally consistent with the four pillars. However, the distribution of competencies is unequal across pillars, professions, and geographical regions, which may provide direction for further research. Doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/KV2FD Published on March 07, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Kenyon
- Advanced Health Care Practice Program - Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Sarah DeBoer
- Advanced Health Care Practice Program - Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Rosy El-Khoury
- Advanced Health Care Practice Program - Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Denise La
- Advanced Health Care Practice Program - Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Brendan Saville
- Advanced Health Care Practice Program - Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Heather Gillis
- Advanced Health Care Practice Program - Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Greg Alcock
- Advanced Health Care Practice Program - Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Erin Miller
- Advanced Health Care Practice Program - Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jackie Sadi
- Advanced Health Care Practice Program - Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Wang T, Giunti G, Goossens R, Melles M. Timing, Indicators, and Approaches to Digital Patient Experience Evaluation: Umbrella Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e46308. [PMID: 38315545 PMCID: PMC10877490 DOI: 10.2196/46308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increasing prevalence of DH applications has outpaced research and practice in digital health (DH) evaluations. Patient experience (PEx) was reported as one of the challenges facing the health system by the World Health Organization. To generate evidence on DH and promote the appropriate integration and use of technologies, a standard evaluation of PEx in DH is required. OBJECTIVE This study aims to systematically identify evaluation timing considerations (ie, when to measure), evaluation indicators (ie, what to measure), and evaluation approaches (ie, how to measure) with regard to digital PEx. The overall aim of this study is to generate an evaluation guide for further improving digital PEx evaluation. METHODS This is a 2-phase study parallel to our previous study. In phase 1, literature reviews related to PEx in DH were systematically searched from Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. Two independent raters conducted 2 rounds of paper screening, including title and abstract screening and full-text screening, and assessed the interrater reliability for 20% (round 1: 23/115 and round 2: 12/58) random samples using the Fleiss-Cohen coefficient (round 1: k1=0.88 and round 2: k2=0.80). When reaching interrater reliability (k>0.60), TW conducted the rest of the screening process, leaving any uncertainties for group discussions. Overall, 38% (45/119) of the articles were considered eligible for further thematic analysis. In phase 2, to check if there were any meaningful novel insights that would change our conclusions, we performed an updated literature search in which we collected 294 newly published reviews, of which 102 (34.7%) were identified as eligible articles. We considered them to have no important changes to our original results on the research objectives. Therefore, they were not integrated into the synthesis of this review and were used as supplementary materials. RESULTS Our review highlights 5 typical evaluation objectives that serve 5 stakeholder groups separately. We identified a set of key evaluation timing considerations and classified them into 3 categories: intervention maturity stages, timing of the evaluation, and timing of data collection. Information on evaluation indicators of digital PEx was identified and summarized into 3 categories (intervention outputs, patient outcomes, and health care system impact), 9 themes, and 22 subthemes. A set of evaluation theories, common study designs, data collection methods and instruments, and data analysis approaches was captured, which can be used or adapted to evaluate digital PEx. CONCLUSIONS Our findings enabled us to generate an evaluation guide to help DH intervention researchers, designers, developers, and program evaluators evaluate digital PEx. Finally, we propose 6 directions for encouraging further digital PEx evaluation research and practice to address the challenge of poor PEx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Wang
- Department of Human-Centered Design, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Guido Giunti
- Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Clinical Medicine Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Richard Goossens
- Department of Human-Centered Design, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Marijke Melles
- Department of Human-Centered Design, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
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Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA. Difficult lives explain depression better than broken brains. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:206-209. [PMID: 38374359 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02462-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Moncrieff
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
- Research and Development Department, North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), Rainham, UK.
| | - Ruth E Cooper
- NIHR Mental Health Policy Research Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Simone Amendola
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael P Hengartner
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mark A Horowitz
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
- Research and Development Department, North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), Rainham, UK
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Núñez-Núñez M, Maes-Carballo M, Mignini LE, Chien PFW, Khalaf Y, Fawzy M, Zamora J, Khan KS, Bueno-Cavanillas A. Research integrity in randomized clinical trials: A scoping umbrella review. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2023; 162:860-876. [PMID: 37062861 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are experiencing a crisis of confidence in their trustworthiness. Although a comprehensive literature search yielded several reviews on RCT integrity, an overarching overview is lacking. OBJECTIVES The authors undertook a scoping umbrella review of the research integrity literature concerning RCTs. SEARCH STRATEGY AND SELECTION CRITERIA Following prospective registration (https://osf.io/3ursn), two reviewers independently searched PubMed, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, without language or time restrictions, until November 2021. The authors included systematic reviews covering any aspect of research integrity throughout the RCT lifecycle. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS The authors assessed methodological quality using a modified AMSTAR 2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) tool and collated the main findings. MAIN RESULTS A total of 55 relevant reviews, summarizing 6001 studies (median per review, 63; range, 8-1106) from 1964 to 2021, had an overall critically low quality of 96% (53 reviews). Topics covered included general aspects (15%), design and approval (22%), conduct and monitoring (11%), reporting (38%), postpublication concerns (2%), and future research (13%). The most common integrity issues covered were ethics (18%) and transparency (18%). CONCLUSIONS Low-quality reviews identified various integrity issues across the RCT lifecycle, emphasizing the importance of high ethical standards and professionalism while highlighting gaps in the integrity landscape. Multistakeholder consensus is needed to develop specific RCT integrity standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Núñez-Núñez
- Pharmacy Department, University Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Granada, Spain
- Biomedical research institute of Granada (IBS-Granada), Granada, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP-Spain), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Maes-Carballo
- General Surgery Department. Breast Cancer Unit, Complexo Hospitalario de Ourense, Ourense, Spain
- General Surgery Department, Hospital Público Verín, Ourense, Spain
| | | | | | - Yacoub Khalaf
- Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Mohamed Fawzy
- IbnSina (Sohag), Banon (Assiut), Qena (Qena), Amshag (Sohag) IVF Facilities, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Javier Zamora
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP-Spain), Madrid, Spain
- Clinical Biostatistics Unit, Hospital Ramón y Cajal (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Khalid S Khan
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP-Spain), Madrid, Spain
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada Faculty of Medicine, Granada, Spain
| | - Aurora Bueno-Cavanillas
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP-Spain), Madrid, Spain
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada Faculty of Medicine, Granada, Spain
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Michel S, Atmakuri A, von Ehrenstein OS. Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants and congenital heart defects: An umbrella review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108076. [PMID: 37454629 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants has been linked to congenital heart defects (CHD), but findings of existing systematic reviews have been mixed. OBJECTIVE To assess the epidemiological evidence on associations between prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants and CHD subtypes, based on a systematic overview of reviews ("umbrella review"). METHODS We conducted a systematic search for reviews assessing associations between prenatal exposure to criteria air pollutants and CHD. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) tool. The certainty of the systematic review findings was graded using the Navigation Guide methodology. RESULTS We identified eleven systematic reviews, including eight with meta-analyses, assessing in total 35 primary studies of prenatal exposure to criteria air pollutants and various CHD subtypes. The certainty of the findings of four meta-analyses indicating an increased risk for coarctation of the aorta associated with nitrogen dioxide exposure was rated as moderate. The certainty of findings indicating positive, inverse, or null associations for other pollutant-subtype combinations was rated as very low to low, based on low precision and high statistical heterogeneity of summary odds ratios (SOR), substantial inconsistencies between review findings, and methodological limitations of the systematic reviews. DISCUSSION The inconsistent findings and high statistical heterogeneity of many SOR of the included systematic reviews may partly be traced to differences in methodological approaches, and the risk of bias across included reviews (e.g., inclusion criteria, systematic search strategies, synthesis methods) and primary studies (e.g., exposure assessment, diagnostic criteria). Adherence to appropriate systematic review guidelines for environmental health research, as well as rigorous evaluation of risk of bias in primary studies, are essential for future risk assessments and policy-making. Still, our findings suggest that prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants may increase risks for at least some CHD subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Michel
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| | - Aishwarya Atmakuri
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ondine S von Ehrenstein
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Snuggs S, Harvey K. Family Mealtimes: A Systematic Umbrella Review of Characteristics, Correlates, Outcomes and Interventions. Nutrients 2023; 15:2841. [PMID: 37447168 PMCID: PMC10346164 DOI: 10.3390/nu15132841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Systematic reviews have examined the multitude of studies investigating family mealtimes and their importance to child/adolescent health and psychosocial outcomes, but the focus of each is limited to specific aspects of family meals (e.g., frequency) and/or specific outcomes (e.g., nutrition). Their findings require synthesis and so a systematic umbrella review was undertaken. Databases were searched to identify systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis/meta-synthesis) addressing at least one of the following questions: what are the characteristics and/or correlates of family mealtimes; what outcomes are associated with family mealtimes; are interventions aimed at promoting family mealtimes effective? Forty-one eligible reviews were retrieved. Their findings demonstrate that families with children/adolescents typically eat together at least a few days each week. More frequent family meals are predicted by a more positive mealtime environment, more positive attitudes towards family meals, the presence of younger children, and families having more time. Greater family meal frequency protects children/adolescents against a poorer diet, obesity, risk behaviours, poorer mental health and wellbeing, and poorer academic outcomes. Findings from interventions seeking to promote family mealtimes are mixed. This umbrella review provides a comprehensive and integrated understanding of research into family mealtimes, establishing where evidence is sound and where further research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kate Harvey
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AH, UK;
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Olusanya BO, Smythe T, Ogbo FA, Nair MKC, Scher M, Davis AC. Global prevalence of developmental disabilities in children and adolescents: A systematic umbrella review. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1122009. [PMID: 36891340 PMCID: PMC9987263 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1122009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim The provisions of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for disability-inclusive education have stimulated a growing interest in ascertaining the prevalence of children with developmental disabilities globally. We aimed to systematically summarize the prevalence estimates of developmental disabilities in children and adolescents reported in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Methods For this umbrella review we searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library for systematic reviews published in English between September 2015 and August 2022. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility, extracted the data, and assessed risk of bias. We reported the proportion of the global prevalence estimates attributed to country income levels for specific developmental disabilities. Prevalence estimates for the selected disabilities were compared with those reported in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. Results Based on our inclusion criteria, 10 systematic reviews reporting prevalence estimates for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, developmental intellectual disability, epilepsy, hearing loss, vision loss and developmental dyslexia were selected from 3,456 identified articles. Global prevalence estimates were derived from cohorts in high-income countries in all cases except epilepsy and were calculated from nine to 56 countries. Sensory impairments were the most prevalent disabilities (approximately 13%) and cerebral palsy was the least prevalent disability (approximately 0.2-0.3%) based on the eligible reviews. Pooled estimates for geographical regions were available for vision loss and developmental dyslexia. All studies had a moderate to high risk of bias. GBD prevalence estimates were lower for all disabilities except cerebral palsy and intellectual disability. Conclusion Available estimates from systematic reviews and meta-analyses do not provide representative evidence on the global and regional prevalence of developmental disabilities among children and adolescents due to limited geographical coverage and substantial heterogeneity in methodology across studies. Population-based data for all regions using other approaches such as reported in the GBD Study are warranted to inform global health policy and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tracey Smythe
- International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Felix A. Ogbo
- Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE), Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network, SA Health | Government of South Australia, Berri, SA, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Campbelltown Campus, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - M. K. C. Nair
- NIMS-Spectrum-Child Development Research Centre, NIMS Medicity, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Mark Scher
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Fetal-Neonatal Neurology Program, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
- MacDonald Hospital for Women, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Adrian C. Davis
- Department of Population Health, London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom
- Vision and Eye Research Institute, School of Medicine Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Choi GJ, Kang H. Introduction to Umbrella Reviews as a Useful Evidence-Based Practice. J Lipid Atheroscler 2023; 12:3-11. [PMID: 36761061 PMCID: PMC9884555 DOI: 10.12997/jla.2023.12.1.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The umbrella review (UR) is a novel methodological approach that has been established to address the ever-expanding research volume of published systematic reviews. In this study, we examined the rationale underlying URs, the concepts and goals of URs, and their applicability in clinical settings. Additionally, we briefly assessed the process of conducting URs and discussed the current challenges in this regard. URs are used to integrate, evaluate, and synthesize the findings of related systematic reviews. By organizing and summarizing the abundant information in accordance with the level of evidence, URs can serve as a useful methodological tool and provide appropriate entry points to clinicians or decision-makers in the medical field. Considering the availability of many suitable interventions for specific conditions in a broad field, URs can enable evidence-based decision-making and offer a broad perspective for the resolution of issues in healthcare by summarizing the evidence and providing directions on a variety of topics. URs are clearly contributing to the management of the deluge of evidence in evidence-based medicine. However, despite the availability of several directions for conducting URs, some points of confusion persist, especially when determining the certainty of evidence. Therefore, advanced guidelines for the appropriate performance of URs are required to provide more reliable evidence through URs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geun Joo Choi
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun Kang
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Lopes LT, Rodrigues JM, Baccarin C, Oliveira K, Abreu M, Ribeiro V, Anastácio ZC, Machado JP. Autism Spectrum as an Etiologic Systemic Disorder: A Protocol for an Umbrella Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10112200. [PMID: 36360541 PMCID: PMC9690003 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10112200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder with a huge prevalence increasing every year (1/44 children). Still diagnosed as a mental disorder, the last 10 years of research found possible causes, risks, genetics, environmental triggers, epigenetics, metabolic, immunological, and neurophysiological unbalances as relevant aetiology. Umbrella methodology is the highest level of scientific evidence, designed to support clinical and political decisions. A literature search for autism aetiology, pathophysiology, or causes, conducted in the last 10 years, at PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and the Web of Science, resulted in six umbrella reviews. Nevertheless, only one quantitative analysis reported risk factors and biomarkers but excluded genetics, experiments on animal models, and post-mortem studies. We grouped ASD’s multi-factorial causes and risks into five etiological categories: genetic, epigenetic, organic, psychogenic, and environmental. Findings suggest that autism might be evaluated as a systemic disorder instead of only through the lens of mental and behavioural. The overview implications of included studies will be qualitatively analysed under ROBIS and GRADE tools. This umbrella review can provide a rational basis for a new urgent health policy to develop better and adequate integrated care services for ASD. The methodological protocol has the register CRD42022348586 at PROSPERO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Teixeira Lopes
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal
- Center of BioSciences in Integrative Health, 4200-355 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Celeste Baccarin
- Center of BioSciences in Integrative Health, 4200-355 Porto, Portugal
| | - Kevin Oliveira
- Center of BioSciences in Integrative Health, 4200-355 Porto, Portugal
| | - Manuela Abreu
- Center of BioSciences in Integrative Health, 4200-355 Porto, Portugal
| | - Victor Ribeiro
- Center of BioSciences in Integrative Health, 4200-355 Porto, Portugal
| | - Zélia Caçador Anastácio
- Research Center on Child Studies, Institute of Education, University of Minho, 4804-533 Braga, Portugal
| | - Jorge Pereira Machado
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal
- Center of BioSciences in Integrative Health, 4200-355 Porto, Portugal
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Shah K, VP V, Sharma U, Mavalankar D. Response to Letter to Editor: Vitamin D supplementation reduces COVID-19 severity. QJM 2022; 116:408-409. [PMID: 35861424 PMCID: PMC9384464 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcac178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Komal Shah
- Corresponding Author: Dr. Komal Shah, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Public Health—Gandhinagar, Opp. Air Force Head Quarters, Nr. Lekawada Bus Stop, Gandhinagar-Chiloda Road, Gandhinagar - 382042, Mob: +91 9924264500,
| | - Varna VP
- MPH Student, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382042, India
| | - Ujeeta Sharma
- MPH Student, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382042, India
| | - Dileep Mavalankar
- Director, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382042, India
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