Outcome measurement for gender-affirming care in Canada: a systematic review

Introduction
Gender-affirming care (GAC) includes interventions aimed at supporting an individual’s gender identity. Canada is experiencing an increase in referrals for GAC, higher than any other health service; therefore, there is a need for a systematic approach to health outcome measurement to effectively evaluate care. This review aims to analyse health outcome measurement in Canadian GAC, focusing on what is measured, how it is measured and associated barriers and enablers.

Methods
A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus and CINAHL, up to 26 December 2023. Inclusion criteria were original articles involving transgender or gender-diverse (TGD) patients receiving gender-affirming care in Canada.

Results
A total of 4649 articles were identified with 64 included, representing 6561 TGD patients. Most studies were conducted in Ontario (52%), British Columbia (19%) and Quebec (11%). The most common forms of GAC provided were hormonal (36%) and surgical (27%). Barriers to outcome measurement include that most studies (61%) did not use patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). When PROMs were used, most did not capture gender-related constructs (eg, gender dysphoria). Barriers to accessing care included stigma, discrimination, lack of clinician knowledge, geographic, socioeconomic and institutional barriers.

Conclusion
This review reveals gaps in outcome measurement for GAC, particularly underutilisation of PROMs and inconsistent outcome measurement and reporting. There is a need to systematically implement PROMs, including those measuring gender-related constructs, to promote patient-centred care. This review provides evidence-based recommendations for improving health outcomes for TGD individuals in Canada.

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Marzo 2025

Barriers to conversations about deceased organ donation among adults living in the UK: a systematic review with narrative synthesis

Objectives
To explore the barriers to conversations about deceased organ donation among adults living in the UK.

Design
Systematic review with narrative synthesis.

Data sources
PubMed, MEDline via OVID, APA PsycInfo via EBSCO, Web of Science via Clarivate and Scopus via Elsevier, covering studies that were published between January 2006 and December 2023. Searches were conducted on 1 December 2023 and completed on 2 February 2024.

Eligibility criteria
Studies published between January 2006 and December 2023, focusing on barriers to organ donation conversations among adults in the UK. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were included, emphasising cultural and generational factors. Non-English studies and those unrelated to the UK were excluded.

Data extraction and synthesis
Screening and data extraction were conducted by two independent reviewers using a standardised tool. Quality assessment was performed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists, evaluating study bias. A narrative synthesis approach was used to integrate findings from heterogeneous studies.

Results
11 studies (6 qualitative, 5 quantitative) with a total of 4991 participants were included. Four main thematic barriers emerged: (1) jinx factor—cultural beliefs associating discussion of death with bad luck; (2) generational impact—younger people were more open but cautious of upsetting parents; (3) ethnic disparities in conversations—varied challenges across diverse backgrounds and (4) cues to action—media and personal experiences prompted conversations. Facilitators included culturally tailored communication and community engagement.

Conclusion
Conversations about death and organ donation are often brief and hindered by cultural taboos surrounding death, generational differences in attitudes and the influence of family dynamics. Further research is needed to understand communication patterns better and to tailor interventions that encourage open discussions about organ donation across different ethnic groups.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42022340315.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Factors associated with prehospital and in-hospital delays in acute ischaemic stroke care in Indonesia: a systematic review

Objectives
This systematic review examines prehospital and in-hospital delays in acute stroke care in Indonesia.

Design
Systematic review adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Data sources
We conducted a thorough search across 11 databases, ClinicalTrials.gov registries and three preprint repositories up until October 2024.

Eligibility criteria
Studies that examined risk variables associated with hospital delays in the treatment of acute stroke in Indonesian individuals were included.

Data extraction and synthesis
Two reviewers each carried out the data extraction and risk-of-bias evaluation separately. The quality of the study was evaluated using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Exposures tool. The ‘combining p values’ approach and albatross plots were used to synthesise the findings.

Results
A total of 27 studies with 3610 patients were included. Key factors contributing to prehospital delays included low educational level (p=0.014, 6 studies), low socioeconomic status (p=0.003, 5 studies), cultural beliefs affecting decision-making (p

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Marzo 2025

Evaluation of the utility of group-based physical activity among university students: a systematic review protocol

Introduction
Sedentary behaviours are a prevalent issue among university students worldwide. The negative impact of low physical activity (PA) levels among university students on mental and physical health is well-documented. Regular PA is linked to numerous health benefits and protects against non-communicable diseases. While group-based physical activity (GBPA) interventions show promise, their effectiveness in increasing PA levels among university students remains uncertain. This review aims to identify, evaluate and elucidate the key determinants of successful GBPA interventions tailored to this population.

Methods and analysis
We will search articles from PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus via EBSCOhost, Africa-Wide, PsycInfo and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. We will perform article screening, data extraction and quality assessment of eligible studies in duplicate. The risk of bias in individual studies will be assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool for randomised control trials, Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies – of Interventions for non-randomised interventional studies and Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies – of Exposure. We will conduct a narrative synthesis of the findings. If there is homogeneity of primary outcomes, we will perform a meta-analysis to appraise evidence across studies. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation will be used to synthesise the quality of evidence across studies.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval is not required for this systematic review protocol; we will analyse published primary studies. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42024553196.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Access and use of general and mental health services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives
To quantify access to health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and measure the change in use between the prepandemic and the pandemic periods in a population with assessment of psychological distress or diagnosis of mental disorders.

Data sources
We developed and piloted a search syntax and adapted it to enter the following databases from 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2023: PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Epistemonikos and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. We reran the searches from the end of the original search to 3 December 2024.

Design
We systematically screened titles, abstracts and full texts of retrieved records.

Eligibility criteria
We included observational studies on any populations and regions, covering health services such as doctor visits, hospital admissions, diagnostic examinations, pharmaceutical therapies and mental health (MH) services. Only studies using validated scales to assess psychological distress or mental disorders as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders were included.

Data extraction and synthesis
We extracted data using a purposefully designed form and evaluated the studies’ quality with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We measured the incidence rate (IR) of access to health services and the IR ratio (IRR) between the prepandemic and the pandemic periods. We calculated contacts days and catchment areas in the different periods. We used the random effects DerSimonian-Laird inverse-variance model and calculated heterogeneity with statistics I² and ². We computed pooled IR and pooled IRR and tested the hypothesis of no variation (IRR=1).

Results
We retrieved 10 014 records and examined the full text of 580 articles. We included 136 primary studies of which 44 were meta-analysed. The IR of access to services during the pandemic was 2.59 contact months per 10 000 inhabitants (IR=2.592; 95% CI: 1.301 to 5.164). We observed a reduction of 28.5% in the use of services with negligible differences by age group and type of services (IRR=0.715; 95% CI: 0.651 to 0.785). We observed significant differences in effect sizes across studies (2=5.44; p

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Marzo 2025

Enhancing the experience and outcomes of children with complex care needs in acute paediatric settings: a realist review protocol

Introduction
The number of babies, children and young people with complex care needs (henceforth children with complex care needs (CCCN)) in England has increased in recent decades, and this has also been recognised globally. CCCN may have frequent and lengthy hospital admissions, but during these episodes, their needs are not always met, potentially resulting in suboptimal experiences and outcomes. Despite increased numbers of CCCN accessing acute care and displaying greater complexity, much of the contemporary literature has focused on primary care coordination between health, education and social care. Research specifically focused on CCCN in the acute care setting is largely absent. This realist review aims to understand how optimal experience and outcomes are achieved for CCCN during acute care, in different settings, for whom and why.

Methods and analysis
This realist review will proceed through six steps: (1) clarifying the scope of the review, (2) searching for evidence, (3) data selection and quality appraisal, (4) data extraction, (5) analysis and synthesis and (6) dissemination. We will search Medline, Cumulated Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature and PsycINFO, alongside grey literature and other sources and will carry out citation tracking. Patient and public involvement and engagement have aided in the development of this protocol and will be maintained through regular consultations with a stakeholder group throughout the review. The review will result in a programme theory which will include context-mechanism-outcome configurations and provide data to support claims of generative causation.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval is not required for this review as it does not involve primary research. The programme theory developed will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and relevant conferences. It will subsequently inform the development of an intervention to improve acute care for CCCN.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42024591231.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Research quality and dissemination of paediatric randomised controlled trials with and without patient and family engagement: systematic review

Objectives
Authentic patient and family engagement in child health research is defined as researchers working in partnership with patients and families on all aspects of the research process, including refining the research question, tailoring the intervention, devising study procedures and disseminating study findings. While there is good evidence of a positive impact of patient engagement on the research process, on research teams and on patient partners, there are few empirical data on the impact of patient and family engagement on research quality and dissemination. We conducted a systematic review to compare research quality and dissemination metrics for paediatric randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that engaged patients and families in the research process with trials that did not.

Design
Systematic review using the Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search to identify RCTs.

Data sources
Ovid MEDLINE from 1 January 2011 through to 31 December 2020.

Eligibility criteria
We included RCTs involving children and youth (

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Marzo 2025

Challenges and support needs among family caregivers involved in solid organ transplant care process: a scoping review protocol

Introduction
Family caregivers play an indispensable role in the care of solid organ transplant patients, undertaking a wide range of tasks from basic daily care to complex medical management. However, these responsibilities come with substantial challenges, placing additional strain on caregivers who bear significant physical, emotional, financial and social burdens, along with numerous unmet support needs. Currently, the exploration of challenges and support needs among family caregivers in the caregiving process is limited to primary research, lacking a synthesised and comprehensive understanding of the issues. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review is to summarise the available evidence to accentuate the diverse challenges encountered by family caregivers and to identify their specific supportive needs, while also pinpointing the areas of research that have yet to be explored.

Methods and analysis
Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews, this review will be conducted. The initial search of PubMed to identify keywords was conducted on 16 November 2024. Additionally, Web of Science Core Collection, ProQuest, Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and China Wan Fang database will be systematically searched for relevant literature. No language or date restrictions will be applied. Two reviewers will independently screen the articles based on title, abstract and full text. Data extraction and analysis of results will be presented in tables or graphs.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval is not necessary for this scoping review. The study findings will be published in open-access journals after peer review. These findings will provide information for healthcare providers to alleviate the plight of family caregivers and to pave the way forward towards more resilient caregiver support systems.

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Marzo 2025

Effects of water aerobics on body composition in obesity and overweight people: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives
Obesity and overweight significantly impact public health. The benefits of water aerobics (WAs) have been shown in obesity and overweight people, but the effects of WAs on body composition improvement are still unclear.

Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources
A systematic literature search was conducted on 16 November 2024, across the PubMed MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies
Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included, which were independently screened by two researchers. All RCTs on WAs that evaluated the anthropometric and body composition parameters of overweight and obesity subjects were included. Eligible studies were reported following the Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement.

Data extraction and synthesis
All process were independently screened by two researchers (ZD, HZ). A fixed-effects or random-effects model was chosen based on the heterogeneity of the studies. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Risk of Bias V.2.0 tool, and sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted for outcome indicators. The quality of evidence for each outcome was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system.

Results
A total of 10 studies involving 286 participants were included. Sensitivity analyses were performed for percent body fat (PBF) with high heterogeneity, and the results were robust. WAs were able to reduce body weight (BW) (weighted mean differences (WMD)=–2.69, 95% CI –4.10 to –1.27, p

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Marzo 2025

Systematic Review Examines GLP-1s Drugs’ Effectiveness and Safety in Patients Without Diabetes

A systematic review of randomized clinical trials involving about 15 500 participants without diabetes found that all 12 of the identified glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists led to decreased body mass, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Of the 3 commercially available agents—liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide—the latter resulted in the greatest weight loss, with participants reporting up to an 18% change in body weight after nearly 17 months.

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Marzo 2025

Albuminuria in Cardiovascular, Kidney, and Metabolic Disorders: A State-of-the-Art Review

Circulation, Volume 151, Issue 10, Page 716-732, March 11, 2025. Albuminuria—increased urine albumin excretion—is associated with cardiovascular mortality among patients with diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, or heart failure, as well as among adults with few cardiovascular risk factors. Many authors have hypothesized that albuminuria reflects widespread endothelial dysfunction, but additional work is needed to uncover whether albuminuria is directly pathologic or causative of cardiovascular disease. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio is an attractive, unifying biomarker of cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic conditions that may be useful for identifying and monitoring disease trajectory. However, albuminuria may develop through unique mechanisms across these distinct clinical phenotypes. This state-of-the-art review discusses the role of albuminuria in cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic conditions; identifies potential pathways linking albuminuria to adverse outcomes; and provides practical approaches to screening and managing albuminuria for clinical cardiologists. Future research is needed to determine how broadly and how frequently to screen patients for albuminuria, whether it is cost-effective to treat low-grade albuminuria (10–30 mg/g), and how to equitably offer newer antiproteinuric therapies across the spectrum of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic diseases.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Effects of dyadic psychosocial education on people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia and their informal caregivers: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia impose a significant burden on individuals and their caregivers. Dyadic psychosocial education, which treats care recipients and their caregivers as a pair of active participants, has the potential to improve health outcomes for people with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. However, the results of recent studies on this subject are contradictory. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of dyadic psychosocial education for people with MCI or dementia and their informal caregivers.

Methods and analysis
Six databases will be searched. We will include all randomised controlled trials that compare dyadic psychosocial education to usual care. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Assessment Tool (V.2). Meta-analyses, subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses will be performed using Stata V.15.1. A narrative synthesis will be conducted if quantitative analysis is not feasible.

Ethics and dissemination
This study and subsequent systematic review will not collect individual-level data and, therefore, do not require ethics committee approval. Peer-reviewed publications will disseminate the study results.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42024497554.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Healthcare workers perspectives on barriers and facilitators to referral to type 2 diabetes prevention programmes: a systematic review

Objectives
Diabetes is a growing global health concern. International guidelines recommend referral to diabetes prevention programmes (DPPs) for those at high risk of type 2 diabetes. However, many of those eligible to participate in DPPs are not referred. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are pivotal to the referral processes. This study aimed to identify, appraise and synthesise barriers and facilitators to referral to DPPs from the perspective of HCWs.

Design
Systematic review using the best-fit framework synthesis.

Data sources
MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Web of Science and Scopus were searched from January 1997 to July 2023.

Eligibility criteria
Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods primary studies exploring HCWs’ perspectives of barriers and facilitators to referral to DPPs.

Data extraction and synthesis
One author screened, extracted and appraised the literature while a second author independently verified at least a 20% sample at each stage. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The best-fit framework approach was used to synthesise the evidence with the Theoretical Domains Framework as the a priori framework.

Results
Of 9998 studies identified, 31 met the inclusion criteria, with a further six identified from reference and citation searching. Barriers and facilitators were coded to 11 of the 14 TDF domains and to another category ‘Expectation of Patient Barriers’. The most frequently occurring domains for both barriers and facilitators were Environmental Context and Resources, Expectation of Patient Barriers and Knowledge. HCWs felt that clear easy referral pathways to the programmes and additional staff or resources were essential to improve referral. HCWs’ were concerned that attending the DPP would place a (time and/or financial) burden on their patients which left them conflicted about referral. HCWs lacked knowledge of the effectiveness, availability and accessibility of DPPs.

Conclusions
Future strategies to improve referral to DPPs should include clear referral pathways and the resourcing of referral. Strategies are also needed to build awareness of DPPs and to address concerns among HCWs about their patients.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Delivery methods and outcomes of eHealth programmes in neonatal transitional care for families of preterm or medically complex infants: a scoping review protocol

Introduction
The transition from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to home is a critical period for families with preterm or medically complex infants and is often marked by stress, anxiety and the challenge of managing complex medical regimens. Virtual programmes such as mobile health applications and telehealth interventions have emerged as promising tools to support families during this transition. These programmes aim to provide continuous education and support after discharge. This scoping review will map the existing evidence on virtual interventions supporting families during the NICU-to-home transition and identify their delivery methods and reported outcomes.

Methods and analysis
This protocol outlines a scoping review methodology, as described by Arksey and O’Malley and further improved by Levac et al. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review will be used as a guiding framework for scoping reviews. A comprehensive search will be conducted in six databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO. Studies will be included if they (1) focus on virtual programmes supporting families of preterm or medically complex infants, (2) involve transitional care during discharge from the NICU to home and (3) are primary studies. Grey literature, as well as secondary and tertiary literature will be excluded. Data will be charted and analysed to summarise the delivery methods, target populations and outcomes reported.

Ethics and dissemination
No ethical approval is required for this study. The findings will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations to the relevant stakeholders.

Trial registration number
This scoping review protocol is registered in the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/HWVZJ).

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Beyond BRCA: A scoping review of person-centred care for women diagnosed with a BRCA gene mutation

Objectives
Women diagnosed with BRCA1/2 mutations face significantly elevated lifetime risks of breast and ovarian cancer. Due to the distinctive biopsychosocial implications of a BRCA diagnosis, the care trajectory for these women is highly personalised, yet their care needs frequently remain unmet. The aim was to provide a first overview of the evidence of women’s experiences with person-centred care (PCC) within BRCA care and their needs for further PCC implementation.

Design
A scoping review, guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews, was conducted.

Data sources
Medline, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL Plus and Google Scholar were searched for literature published between January 2004 and February 2024.

Eligibility criteria
Peer-reviewed, primary studies on BRCA and PCC using quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods designs were eligible. The criteria were iteratively refined to include publications based on samples that were >80% female and >80% BRCA positive.

Data extraction and synthesis
Titles and abstracts were screened with ASReview, a validated AI-driven tool. Data on PCC evidence and needs were extracted based on the eight Picker Principles of PCC and synthesised by describing themes within each principle.

Results
Of the 3801 articles identified as potentially relevant, 18 were included in the review. PCC needs were more prevalent than evidence of their implementation. Most of women’s positive experiences with PCC focused on ‘clear information, communication and support for self-care’, while limited to no evidence existed for other principles. The highest needs were found for increased ‘emotional support, empathy and respect’, ‘attention to physical and environmental needs’, and ‘clear information, communication and support for self-care’. All articles reported demands for more holistic, yet personalised care, though PCC was not mentioned explicitly.

Conclusions
This review suggests a person-centred approach is relevant to improving the standard of BRCA care for women. The first evidence of women’s experiences with PCC demonstrates how care delivered with sensitivity and respect for individual backgrounds can support women throughout their BRCA trajectory. Yet, substantial unmet needs remain among female BRCA carriers, highlighting the importance of further research and PCC implementation to enhance the quality of postdiagnostic care.

Leggi
Marzo 2025