What Are the Physical Demands of Sexual Intercourse? A Systematic Review of the Literature

Archives of Sexual Behavior - The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature investigating the physical demands of sexual intercourse and to synthesize the evidence related to...     

Does Argumentation Matter? A Systematic Literature Review on the Role of Argumentation in Doctor–Patient Communication

In view of a growing interest in argumentative discourse in the context of patient-centered consultation and shared decision making, this article explores the role that argumentation has been attributed in the literature on doctor–patient consultation so far. It studies to what extent theories and concepts of argumentation have been applied by scholars from various fields in order to analyze, understand, facilitate, and improve the argumentative nature of medical consultation. It reports on an extensive and systematic literature search—using eight online databases, expert suggestions, and a manual search—and the subsequent evaluation of 1,330 abstracts on the basis of strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Forty relevant scientific contributions are grouped into four main categories and discussed accordingly: (a) argumentation theory, (b) discourse analysis, (c) medical informatics, and (d) medical ethics. Because of its systematic approach, this study forms a solid starting point for further integration of argumentation theoretical insights into contemporary views of patient-centered medicine and evidence-based medicine. It provides suggestions for further interdisciplinary and theory-driven research with a strong focus on empirical reality. Doing so, a preliminary model is proposed that outlines the potential effects of the quality of doctors’ communication on proximal, intermediate, and long-term consultation outcomes.     

Toward a Global Definition of Professionalism for Nutrition and Dietetics Education: A Systematic Review of the Literature

BackgroundProfessionalism of health care practitioners is central to safe and ethical health care, and forms part of the trust that the public places in health care practitioners. Lapses in professionalism in health care present considerable challenges and can have serious consequences and outcomes. Teaching, learning, and assessing professionalism is an important component of nutrition and dietetics education. There is scant peer-reviewed published research related to professionalism in nutrition and dietetics. Providing a definition of professionalism will support progress in curriculum planning and design, teaching, learning and assessment of students, and ongoing professional development of educators and practitioners.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to conceptualize and define professionalism for the purpose of teaching nutrition and dietetics.DesignThis study included a critical systematic literature review of original research and a targeted and systematic search of national and international dietetics competency standards, exploring the concept and definitions of professionalism in nutrition and dietetics. Competency standards were chosen as an additional focus in the systematic literature search, as they are the key framework documents that guide curriculum development and education standards internationally. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize extracted data and an inductive, interpretivist approach was then applied in conceptualizing a definition of professionalism.ResultsSeven studies and six national and international sets of competency standards were included in the literature review. Four major themes conceptualizing a definition of professionalism for nutrition and dietetics were identified from the integration of the original research and targeted gray literature reviews: 1) personal attributes; 2) interpersonal communication; 3) approach to practice; and 4) commitment to lifelong learning.ConclusionsDefining professionalism for nutrition and dietetics supports progress toward shared understandings, building trust, and assisting in dietetics education and practice. It can be used to support and extend teaching, learning, and assessment of professionalism.     

Does Amount of Protein in Formula Matter for Low‐Birthweight Infants? A Cochrane Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: High protein intake may be associated with negative consequences such as acidosis, uremia, and elevated levels of circulating amino acids (eg, phenylalanine levels). We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials to determine whether formula-fed low-birthweight infants could tolerate protein intakes>or=3.0 g/kg/d in their initial hospital stay, without adverse consequences. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials contrasting levels of protein intakes as low (<3.0 g/kg/d), high (>or=3.0 g/kg/d but <4.0 g/kg/d), or very high protein intake (>or=4.0 g/kg/d) while other nutrients were held constant, were identified through a systematic search of the literature. Standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration were used by 2 independent reviewers, with the third reviewer facilitating consensus decision making. RESULTS: A meta-analysis of 5 randomized trials indicated improved weight gain (weighted mean difference [WMD] 2.36 g/kg/d; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-3.40) and higher nitrogen accretion (WMD 143.7 mg/kg/d; 95% CI 128.7-158.8) with high (>or=3.0 g/kg/d but <4.0 g/kg/d) compared with low (<3.0 g/kg/d) protein intakes while other nutrients were kept constant. No data were available for IQ or Bayley scores at 18 months or later or for very high protein intakes (>or=4.0 g/kg/d). No significant differences were seen in rates of necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, or diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Accelerated weight and nitrogen accretion were noted with higher protein intakes in "healthy" formula-fed low-birthweight infants. This benefit could not be weighed against the adverse consequences of elevated blood urea nitrogen levels and increased metabolic acidosis and neurodevelopmental abnormalities.     

Does Hydration Status Influence Executive Function? A Systematic Review

BackgroundCognitive function, including executive function (EF)-related capacities (eg, working memory, inhibitory and attentional control), has been linked to adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors. Dehydration is associated with impaired cognitive function, whereas improvements in hydration status may improve inhibitory and attentional performance. No systematic reviews have examined the effects of both dehydration and euhydration on EF.ObjectiveThe objectives of this systematic review are to examine studies that have investigated the spectrum of hydration status and EF in adults, and to identify future research needs.DesignThe review was conducted according to the 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. The database search was initially conducted on May 12, 2019 and then updated on April 26, 2020. Databases searched included PubMed, Medline, Psyc Info, SCOPUS, Proquest, and ISI Web of Science. Data extraction included the following: method used to assess de/hydration status, study design, participant characteristics, EF tasks and domain, and results. Article quality ratings were performed on included studies using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Rating Checklist.Participants/SettingStudies done with healthy or diseased adults, aged older than 18 years, in any setting, were included. Studies of individuals with disease states that impact fluid balance or require fluid restrictions as treatments were excluded.Main Outcome MeasureAll EF-related outcomes were included, such as working memory, inhibitory control, task switching, and attention.ResultsFour thousand eight hundred thirty-three articles were screened using title/abstracts. Seventy-one full-text articles were assessed for eligibility; 33 were included (26 included investigations of dehydration; 27 included investigations of rehydration/euhydration) with 3,636 participants across all studies. Little consistency was found across outcomes. Roughly half of the available studies suggested unclear or neutral EF effects, and half suggested effects on EF domains, particularly working memory, inhibitory control, and attention. Studies including a euhydration condition were slightly more likely to demonstrate improvements to EF capacities.ConclusionsOverall, there is a strong need for consistent methodological approaches and a greater number of long-term (ie, >3 days) studies of dehydration and euhydration and EF.     

Baby-Led Weaning: What Role Does It Play in Obesity Risk during the First Years? A Systematic Review

Childhood is a window of opportunity for the prevention of the obesity pandemic. Since “the first 1000 days of life” is a period in which healthy eating habits must be acquired, it should be the target for preventive strategies. Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an emergent way of weaning that could influence children’s health. The nutrition committees of the main pediatric societies affirm there is not enough evidence to support which is the best method of weaning. The aim was to determinate the influence of BLW on the infant’s weight gain compared to the traditional spoon-feeding, and to assess if it could decrease the risk of obesity in children. A systematic review was conducted, following the PRISMA method. Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched. Out of 747 articles, eight studies (2875 total infants) were included (two randomized control trials, 6 observational studies). Results were indecisive, while some studies seem to demonstrate lower weight gain in infants that apply BLW, others show inconclusive results. The risk of bias in all included studies was moderate or high. In conclusion, more clinical trials and prospective studies should be done prior to providing a general recommendation about the best method of weaning to reduce the risk of obesity.     

Does Probiotic Consumption Enhance Wound Healing? A Systematic Review

The use of probiotics is one of the emerging lines of treatment for wound healing. This systematic review aimed to summarize currently available evidence on the effect of oral or enteral probiotic therapy on skin or oral mucosal wound healing in humans. To verify the developments in this field and the level of available scientific evidence, we applied a broad search strategy with no restrictions on wound type, target population, probiotic strain, or intervention protocol used. This review included seven studies involving 348 individuals. Four studies reported positive outcomes for healing improvement after probiotic therapy, and none of the studies reported adverse effects or a marked increase in wound healing time. The positive or neutral results observed do not generate strong evidence regarding the effectiveness of probiotics for wound healing. However, they suggest a promising field for future clinical research where the probiotic strains used, type of wounds, and target population are controlled for.     

How Long Does a Cough Last? Comparing Patients’ Expectations With Data From a Systematic Review of the Literature

PURPOSE

We hypothesized that antibiotic overuse for acute cough illness (ACI) is in part due to a mismatch between patients’ expectations and the natural history of ACI.

METHODS

We performed a population-based random digit dialing survey of 493 adults in Georgia to determine their expectations regarding the duration of ACI. We also performed a systematic review of observational studies and the placebo or untreated control groups of randomized controlled trials to determine the duration of ACI from the published medical literature. We included studies of otherwise healthy adults with undifferentiated ACI, no clear bacterial cause, data on at least 1 cough outcome, and at least 1 week of follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean duration of cough in the published literature was 17.8 days. Survey respondents reported a median duration of 5 to 7 days and a mean duration of 7.2 to 9.3 days depending on the specific scenario. Patients expecting a longer duration of illness were more likely to be white, female, and have self-reported asthma or chronic lung disease. Independent predictors of the belief that antibiotics are always helpful included nonwhite race (OR = 1.82, 95% CI, 1.14–2.92), some college education or less (OR = 2.08, 95% CI, 1.26–3.45), and previous antibiotics for ACI (OR = 2.20, 95% CI, 1.34–3.55).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a mismatch between patients’ expectations regarding the duration of ACI and the actual duration based on the best available evidence. Efforts to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use should target this discrepancy.     

Do Professional Interpreters Improve Clinical Care for Patients with Limited English Proficiency? A Systematic Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE: To determine if professional medical interpreters have a positive impact on clinical care for limited English proficiency (LEP) patients. DATA SOURCES: A systematic literature search, limited to the English language, in PubMed and PsycINFO for publications between 1966 and September 2005, and a search of the Cochrane Library. STUDY DESIGN: Any peer-reviewed article which compared at least two language groups, and contained data about professional medical interpreters and addressed communication (errors and comprehension), utilization, clinical outcomes, or satisfaction were included. Of 3,698 references, 28 were found by multiple reviewers to meet inclusion criteria and, of these, 21 assessed professional interpreters separately from ad hoc interpreters. Data were abstracted from each article by two reviewers. Data were collected on the study design, size, comparison groups, analytic technique, interpreter training, and method of determining the participants' need for an interpreter. Each study was evaluated for the effect of interpreter use on four clinical topics that were most likely to either impact or reflect disparities in health and health care. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In all four areas examined, use of professional interpreters is associated with improved clinical care more than is use of ad hoc interpreters, and professional interpreters appear to raise the quality of clinical care for LEP patients to approach or equal that for patients without language barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Published studies report positive benefits of professional interpreters on communication (errors and comprehension), utilization, clinical outcomes and satisfaction with care.     

How Does the Dietary Intake of Female Field-Based Team Sport Athletes Compare to Dietary Recommendations for Health and Performance? A Systematic Literature Review

Field-based team sports present large energetic demands given their intermittent high-intensity nature. Current evidence suggests that the dietary intake of female athletes may be insufficient to meet such demands, resulting in negative consequences for athletic performance and health. The primary aim of this review was to therefore assess the adequacy of dietary intake of female field-based team sport athletes when compared to dietary recommendations. A systematic search of databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and OpenGrey, was performed from the earliest record available until July 2020, obtaining an initial total of 2588 articles. To be included within the final review, articles were required to provide a quantitative assessment of baseline dietary intake specific to the target population. A total of 20 studies (n = 462) met the full eligibility criteria. A majority reported that the dietary intake of female field-based team sport athletes was insufficient in overall energy (2064 ± 309 kcal·day⁻¹), carbohydrate (4.3 ± 1.2 g·kg·day⁻¹), and iron intake (13.6 ± 6.2 mg·day⁻¹) when compared to recommendations. Future research is required to establish why female team sport athletes consistently demonstrate deficient dietary practices, and to explore the potential negative consequences of this.     

In What Ways Does Health Related Stigma Affect Sustainable Employment and Well-Being at Work? A Systematic Review

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation - Studies are increasingly showing that health related stigma is a barrier to employment, but it is not known how. The aim of this systematic review is to...