FreshRSS

🔒
☐ ☆ ✇ BMJ Open

Womens health and well-being over the life course: conceptual framing supported by a scoping review

Por: Iyer · A. · Sen · G. · Rao Seshadri · S. · Snow · R. · Ataullahjan · A. · Liang · M. · Baird · S. · Drake · J. K. · Sharafi · L. · Bhutta · Z. — Febrero 16th 2026 at 14:29

As a framework to conceptualise well-being, the capability approach (CA) combines structural drivers with personal freedoms, making it a compelling approach for understanding women’s health and well-being (WHW). The WHW Project of the Exemplars in Global Health initiative chose the CA for its conceptual framing, while emphasising the influential role of gender and other intersecting inequalities (intersectional gender inequality) in shaping health and well-being over the life course. We discuss the Exemplars in Global Health – Women’s Health and Well-being (EGH-WHW) Framework and a scoping review that supports it.

Objectives

  • To identify well-established and/or validated CA-based frameworks and measures attuned to intersectional gender inequality that analyse women’s well-being over the life course and across multiple geographies.

  • If needed, to develop a new conceptual framework to analyse WHW over the life course through an intersectional gender inequality lens.

  • Design

    The scoping review, which was carried out between January and May 2024 and re-run in May 2025, adhered to the methodology by Arksey and O’Malley, Levac et al and Daudt et al, and the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. The EGH-WHW Framework was developed by a multidisciplinary Working Group comprising representatives of organisations in the WHW Project consortium.

    Data sources

    The review drew upon database searches (Scopus, PubMed) and targeted online hand searches for CA-based frameworks and measures.

    Eligibility criteria

    All CA-based frameworks and measures of multidimensional well-being were included. CA-based empirical research was considered if it applied a framework or measure; or if it analysed multidimensional well-being across multiple geographies.

    Data extraction and synthesis

    Information about each type of CA-based application—its choice of well-being dimensions, methods, focus on inequality, intersectionality and the life course—was recorded in a data charting form. Thematic summative syntheses of publications about each CA-based framework or measure led up to an overall evaluative synthesis of the fit between existing work and our requirements.

    Results

    The review culminated in 94 publications, including six frameworks and 14 measures that met only some of the WHW Project’s requirements: multidimensionality of well-being; attention to intersectional gender inequality and the life course; as well as demonstrated and intended measurements across multiple geographies.

    Discussion

    The review reaffirms the need for the EGH-WHW Framework, which recognises that WHW depend on their freedom ‘to be’ and ‘to do’, and proposes three interconnected clusters of dimensions depicting key capabilities, agency and functionings that are sensitive to intersectional gender inequality and the life course. Each dimension is mapped to specific indicators to support comparative assessments of country performance and drivers of progress across low-income and middle-income countries.

    Conclusion

    The EGH-WHW Framework distinguishes itself from other CA-based frameworks by incorporating both an intersectional gender lens and a life course perspective. The framework’s conceptualisation of multidimensional well-being allows for a rich and nuanced foundation on which to build policies and programmes that address the complex determinants of health, well-being and human rights of different groups of girls and women.

    ☐ ☆ ✇ BMJ Open

    Rapid realist review of organisational supports for youth peer support workers

    Por: Hews-Girard · J. · Halsall · T. · Cullen · E. · Bellefeuille · A. · Daley · M. · Evans · C. · Sandoval · V. · Dunning · A. · Lee · J. · Carde · B. · Couturier · J. · Ferrari · M. · Kimber · M. · Patten · S. B. · Iyer · S. · Dimitropoulos · G. — Febrero 10th 2026 at 14:17
    Objectives

    Providing peer support can benefit youth peer support workers (peers)et by supporting self-determination, recovery and resilience to self-stigma. There is a need to clarify the role of the organisation in providing benefits for peers. We aimed to identify the organisational contexts and mechanisms that result in the creation of healthy workplaces for peers.

    Design

    Rapid realist review guided by the Realist and Meta-Narrative Evidence Syntheses–Evolving Standards guidelines and Pawson’s iterative approach.

    Data sources

    MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, SocINDEX, Google Scholar and Embase were searched from 1979 to 2025.

    Eligibility criteria

    We included qualitative and quantitative peer-reviewed studies and grey literature that captured characteristics of organisational practices and employment considerations in youth peer support programmes.

    Data extraction and synthesis

    Articles were screened independently by multiple reviewers. Inclusion criteria were adjusted to capture literature on organisational practices, and employment considerations for youth peer support programmes. Data were extracted and analysed retroductively to develop Context-Mechanism-Outcome Configurations (CMOCs).

    Results

    Five employment-related risks to peer well-being were identified: (1) difficulty entering the job market, (2) lack of role clarity, (3) pressure to live up to ideals, (4) retraumatisation and (5) stigma. Six CMOCs were developed; all focused on the creation of equitable employment and supporting peer development and empowerment were developed.

    Conclusions

    Community-based mental health organisations can facilitate equitable peer employment through strategies that reduce professional stigma, enhance peer resilience and promote professional and personal development. Policy reform that addresses precarious work conditions is needed to support healthy work environments.

    ☐ ☆ ✇ Evidence-Based Nursing

    Ensuring racial inclusion in research: the role of research ethics committees and patient and public involvement and engagement

    Por: Dube · A. · Ataiyero · Y. · Jones · S. — Diciembre 15th 2025 at 09:45
    Introduction

    Although the UK is a multicultural society, racially minoritised populations are often under-represented in healthcare research owing to the significant barriers to participation they experience.1 Under-representation of racially minoritised groups in research impacts the quality of evidence and applicability of findings to these groups. This, in part, explains why these communities are more likely to report poorer health and poorer experiences of using healthcare services than their White counterparts,2 given that their cultural and spiritual preferences are often ignored.3 This commentary will explore some of the persistent multifaceted barriers and the role of research ethics committees (RECs) in enabling inclusive healthcare research among racially minoritised communities, given their key responsibility in building public confidence, ensuring ethical conduct and safeguarding research participants. In addition, patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) can complement the roles of RECs in embracing diversity in healthcare...

    ☐ ☆ ✇ BMJ Open

    Artificial intelligence tools for the assessment and management of dysphagia: protocol for a scoping review

    Por: Sreedevi · E. V. · Iyer K · S. · Thankappan · K. · Janakiram · C. · Karuveettil · V. · Krishnan · R. · Guntha · R. · Roe · J. · Menon · J. R. — Noviembre 27th 2025 at 03:23
    Introduction

    Dysphagia, or difficulty in swallowing, significantly impacts the quality of life of the affected individuals. Diagnostic approaches, including video fluoroscopic swallowing studies and flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, are the most commonly used methods for assessing swallowing function. Recent advancements have led to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), which will provide innovative approaches to dysphagia diagnosis and treatment planning. There is a limited synthesis of literature on AI tools in dysphagia. There is an urgent need for a more rigorous and structured scoping review that can address the existing gaps, provide a more comprehensive evidence synthesis, and establish clearer guidelines for the clinical implementation of AI in assessments and management of dysphagia. This review will include studies focusing on AI tools such as ML, DL and computer vision for assessing and managing dysphagia. The context will be clinical or therapeutic settings, and all language articles will be considered for the review. Studies not involving AI technologies, those without clinical outcomes and ethical approval, and those focusing solely on the paediatric population will be excluded. This scoping review will systematically map and synthesise the existing literature on the use of AI tools for the assessment and management of dysphagia.

    Methods and analysis

    This scoping review will follow JBI methodology and PRISMA ScR guidelines. Information to be searched from January 2000 to May 2025 will include MEDLINE (via Ovid), Scopus, CINAHL (via EBSCOhost), Cochrane Library, JBI Evidence Synthesis, ProQuest and Google Scholar. The titles, abstracts and full texts will be screened by two independent reviewers. Data extraction will use a study-specific customised form, with descriptive analysis employed to categorise studies by AI tools and outcomes.

    Ethics and dissemination

    Ethical approval is not mandatory for this scoping review as it does not entail the collection of any individual patient data. Secondary data from publicly accessible research papers will be used. All the data sources will be appropriately cited. The findings will be propagated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations.

    Trial registration number

    Open Science Framework: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/DYCE9.

    ☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Advanced Nursing

    Fostering Academic Inclusion and Representation: Enhancing Research Capacity for Black Nursing Academics in UK Universities—A Qualitative Multi‐Study Protocol

    ABSTRACT

    Background

    Nursing as a profession remains underrepresented in research leadership, funding success and scholarly authorship globally, which limits its influence on policy and practice. Within this broader context, racially minoritised nursing academics, including Black academics, face additional inequities that further hinder their visibility and progression. Evidence from the United States, Canada and Australia highlights persistent barriers to research careers and leadership opportunities for Black nurses. In the United Kingdom, these disparities are particularly evident: Black nursing academics face barriers to conducting research while in the wider National Health Service workforce, Black nurses are twice less likely than their White counterparts to be promoted. Together, these patterns constrain career progression and hinder the development of culturally competent healthcare education and practice.

    Aim

    To explore the barriers to conducting research among Black nursing academics working in UK universities that are not traditionally research intensive, and to co-create pragmatic, theory-informed recommendations for enabling supportive and equitable research environments.

    Design

    A qualitative multi-study design underpinned by Intersectionality Theory and The Silences Framework.

    Methods

    Two work packages are proposed. Work Package 1 will use semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences and barriers of conducting research among up to 15 Black nursing academics based at UK universities that are not research-intensive. Work Package 2 will adopt a modified Delphi methodology, engaging key collaborators in two rounds of online codesign workshops. Findings from Work Package 1 will inform structured discussions in which collaborators will develop theory-informed, pragmatic recommendations to strengthen research capacity and engagement among Black nursing academics.

    Conclusion

    This study will address the persistent underrepresentation of Black nursing academics in research. While grounded in the UK, the anticipated outputs will have wider applicability, informing policy, shaping institutional strategies and guiding future research priorities across diverse academic and healthcare systems worldwide.

    ☐ ☆ ✇ BMJ Open

    Understanding the game experiences and mental health of youth: protocol for the Game-in-Action Quebec cohort study

    Por: Paquin · V. · Raugh · I. · Davies · M. · Lepage · M. · Lavigne · K. M. · Dion · J. · Abdel-Baki · A. · Shah · J. L. · Iyer · S. N. · Ferrari · M. — Septiembre 1st 2025 at 17:06
    Introduction

    Video games have been linked to a range of positive and negative effects on the mental health of adolescents and young adults. However, to better understand how games affect the mental health of young people, their use and experiences must be situated in the sociocultural and personal life contexts of individuals. Drawing from a cultural-ecosocial approach, this study combines cross-sectional and digital phenotyping measures to examine the effects of video games on the mental health of youth.

    Methods and analysis

    Participants will be young people aged 16–25 years from the community and living in the province of Quebec, Canada. An initial sample of 1000 youth will complete a cross-sectional survey online, including measures of socio-demographic context, gaming practices and experiences, streaming practices and experiences, as well as personality and well-being. Qualitative questions will explore personal views on games and mental health. A subsample of 100 participants will be selected for digital phenotyping, including daily surveys of well-being, gaming, streaming and social experiences, combined with passive mobile sensing (eg, geolocation). Analyses will include regression and mixed models for quantitative data, reflexive thematic analysis for qualitative data, and an integration of quantitative and qualitative results using participatory methods.

    Ethics and dissemination

    The study received ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board of McGill University (24-02-015). The dissemination of results will be conducted in partnership with a multi-stakeholder advisory committee, including youth who play video games, and will involve peer-reviewed publications, presentations to policymakers in Quebec, and workshops for clinicians and researchers.

    ❌