Scoping review protocol of central chronic medicines dispensing and distribution programme for widening access to medications in South Africa

Introduction
The Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme, a differentiated alternative service delivery programme, initiated by the Department of Health, South Africa, allows clinically stable patients to receive chronic medication refills at the clinic-based or community-based pick-up points, offering stable patients suffering from non-communicable diseases an easy way to collect their medication. This facilitates the achievement of positive therapeutic outcomes and underscores the importance of this programme, which has resulted in decreased stigma concerns and optimising the workload for public health facilities and health workers. Therefore, this scoping review aims to explore and describe how the improved CCMDD programme has widened access to medications in South Africa in readiness for the implementation of the National Health Insurance.

Methods and analysis
This scoping review will be conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley framework and further refined by the Levac framework. The review will follow a six-step approach: (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) studying selection eligibility, (4) charting the data, (5) collating, summarising and reporting the results and (6) consultation. A comprehensive search strategy will be developed by searching studies published between 2014 and 2024 using the following electronic databases; PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Grey literature including conference abstracts and reports will also be searched. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and the Meta-Analysis for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) will be used as a guide for this scoping review protocol. Two independent reviewers will screen identified studies’ titles, abstracts and full texts. Discrepancies will be handled by consensus or consulting a third reviewer author. Data extraction will be conducted using a standardised form. The selection of studies for the review is anticipated to be completed within 10 weeks, from 15 March to 30 May 2025, with strict adherence to the guidelines of the PRISMA-ScR checklist.

Ethics and dissemination
This review, not requiring ethical approval, will inform policymakers, researchers and healthcare professionals to improve the deliverables of the CCMDD programme for all chronic conditions and ailments with a high prevalence in South Africa and identify any research gaps. We plan to disseminate our findings via a peer-reviewed journal, policy briefs, conference presentations and stakeholder engagement.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Health literacy of primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Objective
We aimed to synthesise existing literature on the health literacy of primary caregivers (PCGs) of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Design
Systematic review informed by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Data sources
Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, CINAHL via EBSCO, Scopus and Web of Science were searched from inception to January 2024.

Eligibility criteria
Original studies including observational or experimental data, examining health literacy and/or health literacy proxies using Optimising Health Literacy and Access domains as indicators (eg, education, social support, self-efficacy, health attitudes, reading and writing skills) in primary caregivers of children with CP in LMICs.

Data extraction and synthesis
Data from included studies were systematically recorded using an Excel template, with information extracted independently by two reviewers. We used the Study Quality Assessment Tool developed by the National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Results
The systematic review yielded 2734 articles, with 15 eligible for inclusion. None used health literacy (HL) measurement tools, and there was limited reporting on specific HL domains. Studies spanned 11 LMICs across 5 major regions. PCGs, predominantly mothers, exhibited varying levels of service awareness, service utilisation and social support. Literacy levels significantly impacted HL proficiency, exposing a notable research gap in LMICs.

Conclusions
This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of health literacy among PCGs of children with CP in LMICs. Findings reveal a striking absence of tailored health literacy literature, impacting current considerations of PCGs’ understanding and management of their child’s condition. Additionally, challenges in social support, healthcare navigation and low literacy levels further hinder effective caregiving in LMICs.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Critical Review on Breast Cancer Research

To the Editor The randomized clinical trial by Wong et al comparing hypofractionated (HF) with conventional fractionation (CF) postmastectomy radiation therapy following implant-based reconstruction raises several methodological concerns that require further discussion.

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Marzo 2025

Critical Review on Breast Cancer Research—Reply

In Reply We thank Chan and Wong for their comments about the FABREC study. It is important to note that the study conclusion was based on the result of the prespecified primary analysis (P = .80) at the .05 α level. Thus, the overall type 1 error regarding the intervention effect was controlled to be the .05 α level.

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Marzo 2025

[Articles] Comparative therapeutic efficacy and safety of first-line and second-line therapies for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

This study provided comparative evidence for first-line and post-chemotherapy second-line mCRPCa treatment options. Second-generation ARIs exhibited good efficacy, particularly when combined with other treatments. However, the safety analysis necessitated balance between benefits and adverse events, especially for combination therapies. Stronger evidence is needed through direct comparisons in future clinical trials.

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Febbraio 2025

Association of pickled food consumption with non-digestive system cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives
Several studies have demonstrated a significant association between the consumption of pickled foods and an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer. However, the relationship between pickled food intake and non-digestive system cancers (NDSCs) remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aims to systematically review and analyse the risk of NDSCs associated with the consumption of pickled foods.

Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources
The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science databases were comprehensively searched from inception to July 2024.

Eligibility criteria
Observational studies with a focus on the association between pickled food consumption and the development of NDSCs in children and adults were included.

Data extraction and synthesis
A random-effects model was used for meta-analyses to calculate the pooled risk of NDSCs, including lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, brain cancer, cervical cancer, thyroid cancer and lymphoma. Meta-sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results
A total of 51 studies, encompassing 2 518 507 individuals, met the eligibility criteria. The results of our study suggested a notable correlation between elevated intake of pickled food and heightened susceptibility to breast cancer (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.39, I2=85.1%, p

Leggi
Febbraio 2025

Evaluation of Sex-Related Differences in Cerebrovascular Bypass Patency: Review of 357 Direct Cerebral Bypasses

Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:Demographics and comorbid conditions play a role in vascular health, yet their specific impact on cerebrovascular bypass patency remains unclear.METHODS:An institutional database of 357 patients with intracranial bypass procedures between August 2001 and May 2022 was retrospectively reviewed. Patients with bypass for all causes (eg, aneurysm, atherosclerotic disease, moyamoya disease) were included. Medical history, surgical technique, and flow-related measurements (intraoperatively and on quantitative magnetic resonance angiography at follow-up) were compared across biological sex and in relation to bypass patency. Bonferroni correction was applied to the initial analysis (P≤0.00167). The remaining analyses were considered exploratory. Propensity score–matched analysis matched cardiovascular risk factors and compared women and men in bypass patency.RESULTS:Of 357 patients, 141 were men (39.5%) and 216 were women (60.5%) with average age of 49.0±16.7 years and an average follow-up of 1.97 years. Bypass patency at last follow-up was 84.4% (n=114) for men versus 69.2% (n=148) for women (P=0.001). Differences were seen in underlying diagnoses, with more aneurysm and moyamoya cases represented in female sex (P

Leggi
Febbraio 2025

Barriers and enablers to pharmacist involvement in social prescribing: a protocol for a systematic review of qualitative studies

Introduction
Social prescribing is an innovative approach to healthcare that involves referring patients to non-medical services and activities in the community to improve health and well-being. Pharmacists are well-positioned to contribute to social prescribing initiatives given their accessibility and expertise, but their involvement remains limited. Qualitative studies have explored pharmacists’ perspectives and experiences regarding social prescribing, but their findings have not been systematically synthesised. This protocol outlines a systematic review of qualitative studies to identify and synthesise the barriers and enablers influencing pharmacist involvement in social prescribing.

Methods and analysis
We will conduct a comprehensive search of electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Scopus) and grey literature sources for qualitative studies published in English from each database inception to January 2025 that explore barriers and facilitators to pharmacist involvement in social prescribing. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full texts for eligibility based on predefined criteria. Eligible studies will include those that use qualitative methods (eg, interviews, focus groups, observations) to explore the perspectives of pharmacists on factors influencing their involvement in social prescribing initiatives. Data will be extracted using a standardised form and synthesised using thematic analysis. The methodological quality of included studies will be appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Checklist. Confidence in the review findings will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation-Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research approach.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethics approval is not required as this study will merely synthesise data from published studies. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications as well as conference presentations.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42024600968.

Leggi
Febbraio 2025

Efficacy and safety of balneotherapy in rheumatology: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective
The efficacy of balneotherapy in rheumatology remains unclear. We aimed to estimate its benefits and risks in rheumatology.

Methods
We conducted a systematic review of randomised trials assessing any European balneotherapy for a rheumatological indication in adults versus any control, on clinical outcomes. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and https://clinicaltrials.gov/ (up to 28 November 2023). We used the Cochrane risk of bias tool version 2, funnel plot and asymmetry tests. We used a random effects model with an inverse-variance weighting method for standardised mean difference (SMD) and risk ratio (RR). We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach for two primary outcomes, pain and quality of life (QoL) at 3 months, and two safety outcomes, withdrawal and any adverse event (AE).

Results
We included 29 trials in mechanical disorders, 9 in inflammatory diseases and 4 in fibromyalgia. The synthesis suggested a decrease in pain of a very low level of certainty (SMD: –0.72 (95% CI (–1.00; –0.44)), very serious risk of bias and of inconsistency, publication bias strongly suspected); an increase in QoL of a very low level of certainty (SMD: 0.56 (95% CI (0.37; 0.75)), very serious risk of bias and serious risk of inconsistency); inconclusive results regarding the risk of withdrawal (RR: 0.75 (95% CI (0.46; 1.20)), very serious risk of bias and serious risk of imprecision) and of AE (RR: 0.80 (95% CI (0.43; 1.50)), serious risk of bias and of inconsistency and very serious risk of imprecision).

Conclusion
The certainty of the effect of balneotherapy in rheumatology was very low.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42023448206.

Leggi
Febbraio 2025

Clinical pharmacist-led medication reconciliation supplemented with medication review in admitted patients with chronic kidney disease: a cost-benefit analysis

Objective
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a high economic burden, which is exacerbated by the high susceptibility to drug-related problems (DRPs) in this patient population. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-benefit ratio of medication reconciliation supplemented with medication review for inpatients with CKD, compared with the absence of this intervention.

Design
This was a cost-benefit analysis conducted along with a prospective interventional study.

Setting
The study was conducted at two hospitals in Jordan between February and May 2023.

Participants
The prospective interventional study included 142 admitted patients with CKD.

Interventions
Patients received medication reconciliation at admission and discharge as well as medication review throughout admission.

Primary and secondary outcome measures
The primary outcome measures were the net benefit and the benefit-to-cost ratio of the intervention. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted from the healthcare system perspective by assessing the cost of the service (the pharmacist time required to complete the service per patient) and the economic benefit, including total and per-patient cost savings and cost avoidance.

Results
The total estimated cost of all DRPs in the absence of interventions (cost avoidance) was $83 052 (average of $585±308 per patient); among which $20 623 was attributed to medication discrepancies. The cost savings were estimated at –$467. The supplemented medication reconciliation service was estimated to cost $714. As a result, the estimated net benefit totalled $81 871, averaging $577 per patient, with a benefit-to-cost ratio of 115.7:1 over the 4-month study period.

Conclusions
Delivering a supplemented medication reconciliation service by a clinical pharmacist for patients with CKD is cost beneficial from the healthcare perspective in Jordan, an example of a low- and middle-income country. This finding further confirms the pivotal role of clinical pharmacists in multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

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Febbraio 2025

Protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis comparing the efficacy and safety of benzalkonium chloride-preserved, alternatively preserved and preservative-free eyedrops in the treatment of glaucoma

Introduction
The primary therapeutic approach to glaucoma involves the long-term use of intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering eyedrops. However, the prevalent use of benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as a preservative in glaucoma eyedrops has been associated with ocular side effects, prompting a demand for alternatively preserved (AP) or preservative-free (PF) eyedrops. Studies comparing various preservatives have shown conflicting evidence concerning the safety of BAK-preserved (BP) eyedrops, some studies indicating no notable concerns and others reporting adverse effects. The current protocol concerns a network meta-analysis enabling systematic investigation of the IOP-lowering efficacy and safety profiles of BP, AP and PF eyedrops in patients with glaucoma for whom randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are available.

Methods and analysis
This study will evaluate the IOP-lowering effects of glaucoma eyedrops, comparing formulations with and without preservatives in patients with glaucoma. A systematic search for RCTs, regardless of language or publication date, will be conducted across three electronic databases (Cochrane search engine, Embase and MEDLINE) from 1 March 2024. Two reviewers will conduct a sequential screening of titles and abstracts, followed by full-text papers, to extract useful data. The two reviewers will also assess the internal validity of studies using the relevant and domain-based risk of bias assessment tool. Overall evidence quality will be assessed using the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis approach and presented in summarised form with network diagrams. Forest plots will be generated for enhanced visualisation of the included glaucoma eyedrops’ effects, and pairwise effect sizes will be calculated based on available evidence in the network.

Ethics and dissemination
No ethics review or approval is required for this work, as it will synthesise evidence obtained from published studies. A paper presenting the findings will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42024498328

Leggi
Febbraio 2025

Postdischarge health information tools and information needs for mothers of vulnerable newborns in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review

Objectives
The postdischarge period is crucial for vulnerable newborns at risk of morbidity, readmission and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Addressing gaps in care during this period could improve outcomes. This review consolidates evidence on caregiver information needs and relevant information tools used in postdischarge care for vulnerable newborns in LMICs.

Design
Scoping review using the methodological framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley.

Data sources
We searched six databases for relevant articles published in English between 2001 and 2021. Additional articles were identified through citation and reference checking.

Eligibility criteria
Articles on postdischarge care for newborns in LMICs, excluding economic and technical development studies, discharge to other healthcare facilities (rather than to home) and maternal-focused studies.

Data extraction and synthesis
Data extraction followed Arksey and O’Malley’s data charting method. Using a descriptive synthesis approach, heterogeneous data were collated in narrative format.

Results
From 5190 articles, 22 were included. Only a small number of articles discussed caregiver challenges, like receiving insufficient information at discharge which led to uncertainty in caring for vulnerable newborns. Caregivers had a number of needs in relation to maternal and newborn care, including in terms of coordination of follow-up care. Although a number of tools have been used to support relevant needs (for postnatal care in general rather than specifically for postdischarge care of vulnerable newborns), these have shown mixed effectiveness due to challenges with completeness, lack of training and support, supply chain issues and cultural barriers to adoption, such as preference for alternative providers.

Conclusion
Our understanding of postdischarge information needs for those looking after vulnerable newborns in LMICs remains limited. More effective use of information tools could help address some of these needs and contribute towards reducing neonatal mortality rates.

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Febbraio 2025

Scoping review for pain mitigation during intralesional injections of corticosteroid for hypertrophic scar and keloid treatment

Background
Intralesional corticosteroid injection (ILCSI) has been proven to successfully treat hypertrophic scars (HTSs) and keloids and attain remission in 50% of keloids. Pain is a significant problem with ILCSI, which can affect treatment compliance and effectiveness. To date, many techniques involving ILCSI have been described and used to achieve scar treatment while reducing side effects. The injection technique remains the most widely available method in many healthcare centres.

Objective
This scoping review explores strategies for alleviating pain while administering ILCSIs for hypertrophic scarring and keloid management. ILCSI is a second-line treatment for HTSs and a first-line treatment for keloids.

Eligibility criteria
This scoping review included studies where HTSs and keloids were treated with ILCSI and considered diverse demographics and injection methods. This review excludes other methods of corticosteroid drug delivery where injection is not involved and where the pain assessed is unrelated to injection or infiltration of the scar.

Sources of evidence
This review systematically searched critical databases from inception to December 2023, including ScienceDirect, PubMed and Web of Science, and handpicked articles traced from available review papers. Only English-language publications focused on pain management during ILCSIs for HTSs and keloids were included. All levels of scientific evidence were considered. An in-depth evaluation of the injection technique, type of analgesia or anaesthesia administered, effectiveness of pain management and overall treatment outcomes was conducted.

Charting methods
Citations were compiled in an Excel spreadsheet, with three authors screening the titles and abstracts based on inclusion criteria. Decisions were finalised collaboratively, exclusions were documented and results were presented using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram.

Results
16 prospective studies, 2 retrospective studies, 1 case study and 15 journal articles were included. These studies examined ILCSI for hypertrophic scarring and keloid treatment. No differences in pain intensity between HTSs and keloids were reported. 11 studies systematically explored pain reduction methods such as topical analgesia, cryoanaesthesia, mixing triamcinolone acetonide with local analgesics, slow infiltration techniques, vibration analgesia and needle-free injectors.

Conclusion
Pain can significantly impact patient compliance and treatment outcomes. This review offers a foundational reference for healthcare providers and researchers in the field of scar management, providing insights into current practices and highlighting areas for future research and development.

Leggi
Febbraio 2025

How do patient and practitioner characteristics influence empathy in healthcare? Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction
Empathy is a core component of high-quality care yet is expressed and received in different ways depending on the characteristics (including gender, race, socioeconomic status and disability) of both practitioners and patients. However, the evidence exploring how these characteristics or their overlap (‘intersectionality’) influence empathy has not been synthesised.

Methods and analysis
We will systematically review and meta-analyse studies exploring the influence of healthcare practitioners and patient characteristics on empathy in healthcare. MEDLINE, EMBASE (via Scopus), Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, CENTRAL Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects will be searched from database inception to present. Reference chasing will be used to identify additional studies. Studies that report empathy levels using either (1) the patient-reported Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure or (2) the practitioner or student-reported Jefferson Scale of Empathy. This will include validated versions or translations of both scales.
Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts and extract data using Rayyan. Discrepancies will be resolved in discussion with a third author if necessary. Two independent authors will evaluate the risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools.
Continuous data will be analysed based on the mean, SD, sample size and 95% CIs. Sensitivity analyses will be used to explore the potential impact of risk of bias and use of imputed data. We will explore differences between countries, demographic characteristics, disciplines and lengths of time in practice experience, as well as differences over time (comparing more recent with older studies). We will also explore differences between patient-reported and practitioner-reported empathy.
We will report our findings following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and flowchart.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval is not required for this review as primary data will not be collected. The review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and presented at conferences.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42024604677.

Leggi
Febbraio 2025