Scoping reviews, mapping reviews and evidence and gap maps (collectively known as ‘big picture reviews’) in health continue to gain popularity within the evidence ecosystem. These big-picture reviews are beneficial for policy-makers, guideline developers and researchers within the field of health for understanding the available evidence, characteristics, concepts and research gaps, which are often needed to support the development of policies, guidelines and practice. However, these reviews often face criticism related to poor and inconsistent methodological conduct and reporting. There is a need to understand which areas of these reviews require further methodological clarification and exploration. The aim of this project is to develop a research agenda for scoping reviews, mapping reviews and evidence and gap maps in health by identifying and prioritising specific research questions related to methodological uncertainties.
A modified e-Delphi process will be adopted. Participants (anticipated N=100) will include patients, clinicians, the public, researchers and others invested in creating a strategic research agenda for these reviews. This Delphi will be completed in four consecutive stages, including a survey collecting the methodological uncertainties for each of the big picture reviews, the development of research questions based on that survey and two further surveys and four workshops to prioritise the research questions.
This study was approved by the University of Adelaide Human Research Ethics Committee (H-2024-188). The results will be communicated through open-access peer-reviewed publications and conferences. Videos and infographics will be developed and placed on the JBI (previously Joanna Briggs Institute) Scoping Review Network webpage.
This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Lebanese population regarding thermal burns to inform targeted interventions. Using a cross-sectional design, data was collected from 1090 participants though a structured questionnaire. Key findings revealed a mean knowledge score of 14.89/20, indicating moderate understanding, with gaps in identifying third-degree burns and optimal cooling durations. Attitudes scores averaged 36.97/50, reflecting a strong support for burn prevention but low confidence in first aid. Practices scored 12.37/20, with many participants adhering to safety measures but relying on unverified remedies and lacking emergency preparedness. Significant correlations were found between the three domains, particularly between knowledge and practices (r = 0.328, p < 0.001), emphasising the role of education and attitudes in shaping behaviours. Multivariate analysis identified formal first aid training, education, and urban residency as strong predictors across all three domains, while older age negatively influenced knowledge. These results underscore the need for culturally tailored education and enhanced training to address gaps in burn prevention and management among the Lebanese population.
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease and one of the top causes of cancer death worldwide. Over 30% of cases are potentially avoidable, and while screening for this disease should be possible, the current methods, without risk stratification to detect high-risk groups, are unlikely to detect these individuals. A tailored screening pathway could be applied to individuals with a germline genetic cause of pancreatic cancer, which may account for around 10% of cases.
EUROPAC, although having international reach, is described here in relation to the UK only. This national prospective observational study has run for several decades but was modified into the current trial in 2019, which aims to recruit and screen 10 000 individuals with either familial pancreatic cancer or hereditary pancreatitis (HP). Applicants are assessed for eligibility by generating an individual pedigree and by attributing a family risk score (FR). Individual risk is assessed according to age. Individuals over 40 with an FR >30 are offered baseline imaging and then three yearly triplets of annual endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and an MRI (in the third year). Those with an FR >60 are offered both EUS and MRI yearly. HP patients are screened by CT and/or MRI dependent on risk stratification using the presence of diabetes, smoking or alcohol consumption. Low-risk (absence of these factors) patients have a CT every 2 years, and high-risk (one or more of the above factors) patients have alternate yearly screening with CT, then MRI. Biospecimens are collected at pragmatic intervals with first sampling at registration to support future biomarker development to detect pancreatic cancer early. Detection of early-stage pancreatic cancer and actionable lesions will be evaluated.
The EUROPAC study has been reviewed and approved by the Yorkshire and Humber Research Ethics Committee (Ref 19/YH/0250). Study results will be disseminated through national and international symposium presentations and published in peer-reviewed, open-access journals. All participants provided informed consent prior to entering the study.
Healthy aging has become increasingly important owing to the rapidly growing population of older adults globally, and results from the complex interplay of multiple characteristics such as depression and quality of life. Several countries have included peer-led interventions in their health policies to promote healthy aging. Given the growing evidence for these interventions, determining their comparative effectiveness is vital and warranted.
The aim of this study was to examine the relative effectiveness of peer-led interventions on the depression and quality of life of community-dwelling older adults.
A systematic review and network meta-analyses were performed. The meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models. Additionally, subgroup, meta-regression, and frequentist network meta-analyses were conducted. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD 42023492659).
Twelve studies with depression outcomes and 11 studies with quality-of-life outcomes were included. The effect sizes for depression and quality of life were moderate and small, respectively. For depression, face-to-face interactions and intervention duration were moderating factors. For quality of life, intervention provider was a moderating factor. The combined peer–nurse intervention was shown to have a large effect on quality of life, whereas interventions provided by professionals other than nurses or provided only by peers had a small effect. A ranking analysis found that the most effective intervention for increasing quality of life was the simultaneous involvement of both healthcare professionals and peers. The provision of education and exercise interventions showed a higher ranking than goal setting in the leading group.
The peer-led interventions were sufficient for depression. The effectiveness for improving quality of life may increase when involving both peers and healthcare professionals, particularly nurses. Nursing and health policymakers could establish distinct strategies depending on whether the goal of peer-led interventions is to improve quality of life or alleviate depression for older adults.
Objetivo: Identificar las complicaciones maternas en el embarazo adolescente desde el contexto mundial. Método. Se siguió el protocolo de las guías (PRISMA ScR) y los manuales (JBI), utilizando los Descriptores en Ciencias de la Salud y el ordenador booleano AND: Complicaciones del embarazo AND adolescentes y palabras de texto libre, mismas que fueron insertadas en las bases de datos Dialnet, Pubmed, LILACS y SciELO, considerando los estudios primarios de textos completos que hayan investigado las complicaciones maternas en el embarazo adolescente, cuya metodología empleada haya sido de tipo descriptivo (transversal), incluyendo investigaciones retrospectivas o prospectivas, con una antigüedad no mayor a 10 años y adaptadas al idioma español, inglés o portugués. Resultados. Se encontró un total de 548 estudios primarios, los cuales fueron seleccionados de acuerdo a los criterios de elegibilidad, además de excluir los estudios duplicados en las bases de datos. El total de artículos primarios seleccionados para la revisión fue de 11 estudios en donde se identificaron como principales complicaciones maternas: trastornos hipertensivos, anemia, infecciones del tracto urinario, aborto, ruptura prematura de membranas, y hemorragias ante parto o postparto. Conclusión. La gestación en la adolescencia predispone al desarrollo de complicaciones maternas y en mayor proporción a la aparición de trastornos hipertensivos aumentando el riesgo de morbi-mortalidad materna y neonatal.
ABSTRACT
Objective. To identify maternal complications in adolescent pregnancy from the global context. Methodology. The protocol of the guidelines (PRISMA ScR) and manuals (JBI) was followed, using the Descriptors in Health Sciences and the Boolean computer AND: Complications of pregnancy AND adolescents and free text words, which were inserted in the Dialnet, Pubmed, LILACS and SciELO databases, considering the primary studies of full texts that have investigated maternal complications in adolescent pregnancy, whose methodology used was descriptive (cross-sectional), including retrospective or prospective research, no older than 10 years and adapted to Spanish, English or Portuguese language.Results. A total of 548 primary studies were found, which were selected according to the eligibility criteria, in addition to excluding duplicate studies in the databases. The total number of primary articles selected for the review was 11 studies where the main maternal complications were identified as: hypertensive disorders, anemia, urinary tract infections, abortion, premature rupture of membranes, and antepartum or postpartum hemorrhage. Disicussion. Adolescent gestation predisposes to the development of maternal complications and, to a greater extent, to the appearance of hypertensive disorders, increasing the risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.