Objective
This review evaluates the effectiveness of smartphone applications in improving academic performance and clinical practice among healthcare professionals and students.
Methods
This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane library through a comprehensive search strategy. Studies that included medical, dental, nursing, allied healthcare professional, undergraduates, postgraduates, and interns from the same disciplines who used mobile applications for their academic learning and/or daily clinical practice were considered.
Results
52 studies with a total of 4057 learner participants were included in this review. 33 studies (15 RCTs, 1 cluster RCT, 7 quasi-experimental studies, 9 interventional cohort studies and 1 cross-sectional study) reported that mobile applications were an effective tool that contributed to a significant improvement in the knowledge level of the participants. The pooled effect of 15 studies with 962 participants showed that the knowledge score improved significantly in the group using mobile applications when compared to the group who did not use mobile applications (SMD = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.57 to1.31, P<0.00001). 19 studies (11 RCTs, 3 quasi-experimental studies and 5 interventional cohort studies) reported that mobile applications were effective in significantly improving skills among the participants.
Conclusion
Mobile applications are effective tools in enhancing knowledge and skills. They can be considered as effective adjunct tools in medical education by considering their low expense, high versatility, reduced dependency on regional or site boundaries, online and offline, simulation, and flexible learning features of mobile apps.
Background: Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) patients are at increased risk of psychosocial distress compared with patients with other forms of cancer. Various symptoms of the disease and side effects of treatment are attributing factors for distress. This systematic review aimed to identify the prevalence of psychosocial distress among HNC patients receiving radiotherapy. Methods: The following search engines from 2000-2021 were searched: PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science, ProQuest, Scopus, and Embase. Citation checking and extensive reference checking were also conducted. Cross-sectional, longitudinal, cohort, exploratory and prospective, repeated measure studies published in English were included. Newcastle Ottawa Scale assessed the quality, and the data were extracted on a validated data extraction form. Results: Out of 782 articles, eleven records met the eligibility criteria, including 776 HNC patients receiving radiotherapy. Data were synthesized and summarized descriptively as measurements were not homogenous. Prevalence estimates of depression or depressive symptoms were calculated. Outcomes were measured with various measuring tools and reported in frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation in various studies. All studies reported depression ranging from 9.8% to 83.8%, and pooled estimated prevalence of depression among HNC patients receiving radiotherapy is 63% (95% CI 42-83) with significant heterogeneity (I 2 = 97.66%; p<0.001). An increase in the trend is observed along with treatment progression. Another three studies reported anxiety along with depression. Physical symptoms, body image, low social support, fatigue specific radiotherapy regimens were the predictive factors of depression. Conclusion: HNC patients are psychosocially distressed during radiotherapy, and the distress is steadily increased during the therapy. The predictive factors could serve as potential areas of intervention and supportive therapy during radiotherapy.
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of music on anxiety and pain among patients following cardiac surgery.Background: Cardiac surgery affects patients physically, psychologically and socially.Anxiety and pain are the usual problems among patients following cardiac surgery.
Design:The study design is a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: The Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE) and Web of Science databases were searched for randomized controlled trials from January 2000 to December 2017.Review methods: The Cochrane collaboration guidelines were followed and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach was used to summarize the quality of evidence.Results: Fourteen studies were included in systematic review and 13 in metaanalysis. The meta-analysis revealed that there was a significant reduction in anxiety and pain among patients who received musical intervention compared with those who did not.
Conclusion:Music has positive benefits on anxiety and pain. However, well-designed and high-quality trials are needed to generate higher quality evidence.
Aims and objectives
To evaluate the effectiveness of specialist nurse interventions in the care of women with breast cancer.
Background
Nurses perform a crucial role in physical and psychosocial support of women with breast cancer. However, only few reviews have explored and discussed the roles and interventions carried out by specialised nurses in breast cancer care.
Design
Systematic review based on PRISMA guidelines.
Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, IndMed and Shodhganga databases for articles published in English language from 1980 to 2018. Only RCTs were included. Quality assessment, data extraction and analysis were completed on all included studies.
Results
Sixteen papers were assessed for methodological quality. Due to methodological heterogeneity of the papers, a meta‐analysis was not performed. The reviewers categorised the main outcomes under different domains like physical problems, psychological problems, patient satisfaction, patient needs, quality of life and cost data.
Discussion
This review provides evidence on specialist nurses’ role in breast cancer care. The methodological aspects of studies in this review vary in different aspects. More studies with rigorous scientific methods are needed to provide robust evidence on effectiveness of specialist nurses’ role.
Conclusion
Even though specialist nursing interventions can contribute to health outcomes of women with breast cancer, there is limited number of studies reported from developing countries. This warrants the need for specialist nurse interventions in breast cancer care from developing countries.
Relevance to clinical practice
Offering a specialist nurse service helps the patients to meet their informational and educational needs, supportive care and coordination of care. Specialist breast nurse services can be integrated into hospital setting to improve patient care and treatment adherence.
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