This review aims to investigate which environmental approaches to cognitive rehabilitation are effective in improving cognitive and related functional outcomes for adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to identify the components of these approaches. Individuals with cognitive impairments after sustaining TBI often have limited self-awareness and capacity for goal-directed behavior. Therefore, they are less likely to benefit from cognitive rehabilitation approaches requiring active and self-directed engagement. These individuals may benefit from environmental approaches, which involve manipulating the environment (eg, modifying physical, social, or task-related aspects of an individual's surroundings) to support cognitive function, activity, and participation. However, the evidence base underpinning this is poorly understood, highlighting the need for research synthesis. This review will consider studies that include participants aged 18 years or older with a TBI and evaluate an environmental intervention. We will include randomized controlled trials written in English, irrespective of publication date or status. Outcomes of interest will include cognitive and related functional outcomes (eg, impairment, activity, participation). This review will follow the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness. Information sources will include the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). Two reviewers will independently select studies and extract data. Methodological quality will be appraised using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool for Randomized Controlled Trials. We will use the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) to assess the certainty of evidence. Studies will be pooled with statistical meta-analysis where possible, accompanied by narrative synthesis. PROSPERO CRD42024592708.

The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of conditional cash transfers for the uptake and retention in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services among pregnant and/or breastfeeding women with HIV in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Regardless of the effectiveness of PMTCT services, uptake and retention in such services remains low in LMICs. Conditional cash transfers are considered an important strategy to improve the uptake of preventive services in pregnant women and children. This review evaluated the effectiveness of conditional cash transfers for improving uptake and retention in PMTCT services for pregnant and/or breastfeeding women with HIV infection. Eligible studies that compared the impact of conditional cash transfers on uptake and retention in PMTCT services with standard care or with another intervention among pregnant and/or breastfeeding women with HIV. The primary outcomes were retention and uptake in PMTCT programs, reported as the percentage of pregnant and/or breastfeeding women with HIV enrolled in antiretroviral therapy and the number of facility-based deliveries. The secondary outcomes included the percentage of infants completing postexposure HIV testing at 4 to 6 weeks after birth or early infant diagnosis; the percentage of infants exposed to HIV who tested positive for HIV; and the percentage of infants exposed to HIV with health defects (eg, neural tube defects, heart defects, major limb malformations). This review was conducted in line with the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness. Databases searched included the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, Embase (Ovid), and CINAHL (EBSCOhost). Sources of unpublished studies/gray literature included ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, OpenGrey, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Studies published in English since 2000 were considered. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Data were extracted from the included studies and the studies were pooled in a statistical meta-analysis. Effect sizes were presented as odds ratios (ORs) and CIs (95%) were calculated. The standard χ 2 and I2 tests were used to assess heterogeneity statistically. Statistical analyses were conducted using fixed effects based on established guidance. Two randomized controlled studies were included in this review with a total of 950 participants. Two outcomes were pooled and assessed for the effects of conditional cash transfers: facility-based delivery and early infant diagnosis of HIV. Conditional cash transfers have a significant positive effect on both outcomes compared to standard care. The OR for facility-based delivery was 1.53 (95% CI, 1.15-2.04; P =0.004) and the OR for early infant diagnosis was 1.89 (95% CI, 1.38-2.59; P <0.001). Heterogeneity ( I2 ) was 0% for facility-based delivery and 30% for early infant diagnosis. This review summarizes the available evidence on the effectiveness of conditional cash transfers for the uptake and retention in PMTCT services among pregnant and/or breastfeeding women with HIV in LMICs. It is possible that conditional cash transfers increase facility-based delivery and may increase early infant diagnosis of HIV. PROSPERO CRD42021236729. Translations of the review abstract are available in Amharic http://links.lww.com/SRX/A114 and Afaan Oromo http://links.lww.com/SRX/A115 .

The objective of this review is to identify and map the available evidence on interventions for heart failure dyads through telemedicine. Heart failure is a chronic and progressive condition that requires significant lifestyle changes and daily support from informal caregivers. Due to the shared burden of care, the patient-caregiver dyad should be treated as a single unit in the management of the disease. Although telemedicine interventions for dyads are increasing, their application for dyads with heart failure remains largely unexplored, revealing a critical gap in the field. We will include all quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies focusing on adult dyadic interventions for heart failure delivered via telemedicine. Studies involving dyads who do not share the same household will also be considered. Dyadic interventions aim to reduce discrepancies between patients and caregivers in their approach to the disease (dyadic appraisal), foster greater collaboration in planning appropriate responses to the disease (dyadic behavior), and improve the overall health status of both individuals (dyadic health). These interventions can be provided by various health care professionals using any device. The scoping review will be conducted according to JBI methodology for scoping reviews. We will comprehensively search electronic databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Embase. Gray literature will also be considered. Two independent reviewers will screen the studies according to predefined criteria. Data extraction will be performed using a customized tool. Review findings will be analyzed and displayed using charting techniques in table format. OSF osf.io/nwafp.

This scoping review aims to map and characterize existing programs present in mainstream schools internationally that are targeted at improving children's awareness about neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is a term used to describe human neurocognitive heterogeneity. Increased understanding and awareness about neurodiversity among school students has the potential to improve general student health and well-being. However, there is currently no standardized approach to raising children's awareness about neurodiversity in schools, and the associated literature is diffuse. Literature will be included if it describes or evaluates programs designed to be delivered in mainstream schools aimed at increasing awareness of neurodiversity among students aged 5 to 18years, regardless of geographical location. Published, unpublished, and gray literature from 2013 to the present will be considered. An academic literature search will be conducted across 5 databases: MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and ERIC (ProQuest). A gray literature search will also be performed across sources including ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global and Google Scholar, as well as targeted websites, expert opinion, and reference lists of relevant peer-reviewed literature. Articles will be selected based on eligibility criteria. Data extraction will be conducted independently by 2 extractors using a predetermined form documenting study methods, population, interventions, and outcomes. Analysis and presentation of results will be reported according to the review objectives. OSF https://osf.io/6b378.

The purpose of this scoping review was to identify validated geographic search filters and report on their development and performance measures. The number of scientific publications has considerably increased. Measures to limit search and screening efforts can help to increase the efficiency of preparing systematic reviews. Search filters are useful tools for reviewers to identify reports with common characteristics in bibliographic databases. Geographic search filters limit literature search results to a specific geographic characteristic (eg, a country or region). Searching the literature using geographic filters can be useful in finding evidence about health care practices in distinct geographic regions; providing an overview of cultural, epidemiological, or health economics aspects; or indicating inequalities in health care in a certain region. Our aim was to identify validated geographic search filters and report on their development and performance measures. We included reports on validated geographic search filters aiming to identify research from or about defined geographic features (eg, countries/regions or groups of them). This review was conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews, as specified in an a priori protocol. We searched PubMed, Embase, the InterTASC Information Specialists' Sub-Group (ISSG) Search Filter resource, and Google Scholar. There were no date or language limitations on the searches. The study selection process was independently conducted by 2 reviewers, encompassing both abstract and full-text screening. The data extraction included basic characteristics of the geographic search filter (eg, country/region, database), methods used to develop and validate the search filters, and their performance measures. The extracted data were tabulated and summarized narratively. Our literature search yielded 907 hits. We included 9 reports that addressed 6 search filters for a broad range of geographic regions, including Spain, Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, OECD countries as a group, as well as publications in high-ranking nursing journals from countries where German is spoken. The methods used for developing geographic search filters were heterogeneous. Gold standard sets were created by database searching (n = 3; 50%) and relative recall (n = 3; 50%). Only 3 filters were created using objective methods and 2 underwent internal validation. The sensitivity of the search filters ranged from 73% to nearly 100%. The findings show that validated geographic search filters are not widely available. The identified search filters may serve as methodological outlines for the development of search filters for other countries or geographic regions. The calculation methods for specificity were different, which made comparison difficult. Further efforts to standardize the methods for developing and validating these filters, as well as reporting, are important to increase their reliability and comparability. OSF https://osf.io/5czhs.

The objective of this review will be to synthesize the effectiveness of school-based programs for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevention for school children and adolescents. Schools function as a fundamental platform for communicating health-related knowledge, such as information on preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes. However, the effectiveness of school-based programs for preventing T2DM in children and adolescents remains unclear. This review will consider both experimental and quasi-experimental study designs, including randomized controlled trials, cluster randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, before and after studies, and interrupted time-series studies. School children and adolescents aged 6 to 18years (in Grades 1 to 12) of any ethnicity will be considered. This review will consider studies on T2DM prevention and education programs in school settings. Comparators will include no treatment, standard care, or waitlist controls, with outcomes covering diabetes risk factors, knowledge, health literacy, insulin sensitivity, fasting blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin. These parameters will be assessed using validated instruments. This review will follow the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness. The databases to be searched will include MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Two independent reviewers will select studies, critically appraise them using the standard JBI critical appraisal instruments, and extract data. Studies will be pooled in a meta-analysis or presented narratively. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to grade the certainty of the evidence. PROSPERO CRD42024499998.

The objective of this review will be to synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of manual techniques, exercise therapy, or combined treatments in the management of ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability in adult athletes. Acute ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability are common in athletes. These conditions can result in varying degrees of disability, including reduced athletic performance and time out of competition, which may have adverse psychological effects. The review will consider randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of manual techniques and/or exercise therapy for ankle sprain or chronic ankle instability in adult athletes. The comparators will include sham treatment, no treatment, and other conservative interventions. The outcomes of interest will be pain intensity, functional disability, ankle joint range of motion, ankle muscle strength, postural control, and subjective stability. The review will follow the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness. Searches will be conducted to locate published and unpublished studies in the following sources: MEDLINE (Ovid), CENTRAL (Ovid), Embase, SPORTDiscus (EBSCOhost), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). Two independent reviewers will select the studies, critically appraise them, and extract data. Then, a narrative synthesis and, if appropriate, a meta-analysis will be performed. The certainty of findings will be determined using the GRADE approach. PROSPERO CRD42023493687.

The objective of this scoping review is to determine the breadth of literature exploring the perspectives and experiences of racialized students in entry-level health professional education programs. Despite the implementation of equity, diversity, and inclusion policies and alternative admission criteria for minority students, racialized minorities continue to be underrepresented and have the highest attrition rate in health professional education programs. Furthermore, the students who eventually work in health care settings report experiences of microaggressions and prejudice. By not exploring the experiences of racialized students in health professional programs, equity, diversity, and inclusion policies and curricula risk becoming irrelevant or performative. Studies exploring the perspectives and experiences of racism and discrimination, or related concepts, among non-dominant ethno-racial (eg, Indigenous, Black, South Asian, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander), entry-level health professional students will be included. Experimental study designs as well as observational and qualitative studies will also be included. The review will be conducted in line with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Five databases will be searched, namely, MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), ERIC, and Global Health (Ovid), with no limitations on language or year. A gray literature search of relevant websites will also be conducted. Two reviewers will independently screen articles against the inclusion criteria and extract and summarize data. Disagreements will be resolved through discussion or with a third reviewer. Open Science Framework https://osf.io/4bhg6.

The aim of this umbrella review was to assess the effectiveness of oral appliance therapy compared to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), surgery, inactive appliances/controls, exercise, or other conservative techniques in mitigating symptoms among adults diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep-disordered breathing encompasses a spectrum of recurrent episodes of upper airway narrowing during sleep, marked by symptoms such as snoring, heightened upper airway resistance, or obstructive sleep apnea. The management of obstructive sleep apnea involves a range of conservative and surgical approaches. Among conservative methods, oral appliances are the preferred treatment for primary snoring, mild to moderate cases, and severe cases in patients who are intolerant to CPAP. While several systematic reviews have explored the effectiveness of oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, there has been no comprehensive evaluation or synthesis of these reviews. Systematic reviews, with or without meta-analysis, were examined to assess the effectiveness of various forms of oral appliances in treating obstructive sleep apnea. Polysomnography was employed as the method for evaluating the effectiveness of the appliance. The primary outcome of interest was the effectiveness of oral appliance therapy in reducing the apnea-hypopnea index. Secondary outcomes included the mean change in the respiratory arousal index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores, minimum oxygen saturation, sleep efficiency, rapid eye movement sleep, blood pressure, quality of life, patient preference, and adverse effects. A comprehensive search was conducted up to October 2023 in MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Epistemonikos, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Shodhganga, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Supplementary searches were manually performed using Google Scholar. The critical appraisal and data extraction processes were carried out independently by 2 reviewers. The extracted data were summarized using a tabular format accompanied by supporting text. The quality of evidence was evaluated utilizing the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. This umbrella review incorporated 27 systematic reviews published between 2004 and 2022. The primary studies in these systematic reviews were published between 1996 and 2021. Of the 68 primary studies, 50 were published between 1996 and 2014 and 18 were published between 2015 and 2021. The corrected covered area index was 15.04%, indicating very high overlap between the primary studies included in the systematic reviews. All systematic reviews that compared oral appliances with CPAP consistently reported that CPAP was more efficacious, evidenced by a decrease in the apnea-hypopnea index, respiratory arousal index, and improved minimum oxygen saturation levels. However, patient preference favored oral appliances over CPAP. Additionally, oral appliances demonstrated improvements in subjective sleepiness scores and indices including the apnea-hypopnea index and respiratory arousal index when compared with inactive appliances/controls. The overall quality of evidence using GRADE ranged from very low to moderate. CPAP demonstrated greater efficacy than oral appliances in reducing the apnea-hypopnea index and respiratory arousal index while increasing minimum oxygen saturation levels, indicating significant improvements in obstructive sleep apnea and contributing to enhanced sleep quality and overall health. Despite these advantages, patient preference often leans toward oral appliances over CPAP. Compared with inactive appliances/controls, surgery, and other conservative management approaches, oral appliances have also shown efficacy in improving obstructive sleep apnea. This umbrella review reinforces CPAP as the gold standard for obstructive sleep apnea treatment, although oral appliances represent a viable alternative, particularly for patients who experience difficulties in accessing or tolerating CPAP. The majority of included systematic reviews were published over a decade ago, highlighting a research gap in this area; therefore, future studies should focus on comparing newer treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea.

The objective of this guidance paper is to describe data transformation involving qualitization, including when and how to undertake this process, and to clarify how it aligns with data extraction in order to expand on the current guidance for JBI convergent integrated mixed methods systematic reviews (MMSRs). The convergent integrated approach to MMSRs involves combining extracted data from both quantitative studies (including the quantitative components of mixed methods studies) and qualitative studies (including the qualitative components of mixed methods studies). This process requires data transformation, which can occur either by converting qualitative data into quantitative data (ie, quantitizing ) or converting quantitative data into qualitative data (ie, qualitizing ). Data transformation involving qualitization is poorly understood in the context of MMSRs, and there is confusion regarding how to undertake this process, with much of the literature specific to primary mixed methods studies. There is a need to expand current guidance and provide more practical advice to reviewers on how to undertake this process. The JBI MMSR Methodology Group took a multipronged approach to update its guidance. First, a structured search of the literature was conducted to determine what is known about data transformation, followed by analysis of a sample of systematic reviews that claimed to use the JBI convergent integrated approach to MMSRs. Approaches were summarized and used to inform the development of draft guidance. This guidance was iteratively revised following a series of online meetings, as well as presented to evidence synthesis experts at an international conference. Finally, the guidance was submitted to the JBI International Scientific Committee for discussion, feedback, and ratification. There is uncertainty in the literature regarding the process of data transformation within the context of MMSRs, with ill-defined approaches provided and variation in practice. In JBI convergent integrated MMSRs, it is recommended that data extraction from quantitative studies (or mixed method studies reporting quantitative findings) stays as close as possible to the data reported in the primary studies. Where data are absent or insufficient to meet the needs of the MMSR, systematic reviewers may need to construct the narrative representation using relevant data from the primary studies. Following data extraction, the process of qualitization occurs where extracted data (both quantitative and qualitative) are assembled, and reviewers are required to conduct detailed examination across data to identify likenesses and create categories based on similarities in meaning. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive guidance currently available for data extraction and qualitization for MMSRs. However, it is important to acknowledge the inherent variability in MMSRs and our methodology may need tailoring for certain situations. Further work will focus on examining how certainty and confidence in findings can be assessed within the framework of MMSRs.