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More than 12% of women worldwide are affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), whose symptoms are similar to those of puberty, often leading to delayed diagnosis and missing the opportunity for early intervention. This not only puts PCOS women under physical and mental stress but also reduces their trust in doctors and makes them dissatisfied with the healthcare they receive, which in turn affects their quality of life. Therefore, to improve the doctor-patient relationship and promote health, it is essential to investigate and understand the healthcare experiences that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) receive.
To explore the experiences of women with PCOS when they receive healthcare.
Qualitative systematic review.
Data were collected and screened using the systematic review management system Covidence, based on the established inclusion criteria. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklist was used for critical appraisal, and thematic analysis was used for data analysis.
The databases searched included CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus. The search was limited to studies published in English between 2002 and May 2024.
Seven studies were selected for final inclusion. Three themes were identified: (1) responsive care from healthcare practitioners, (2) managing polycystic ovarian syndrome, and (3) polycystic ovary syndrome and its impact on self-image.
The development of a multidisciplinary PCOS clinic, the establishment of online support groups, and the creation of comprehensive patient-centered treatment plans are vital to enhancing the health outcomes of women with PCOS.
Multidisciplinary PCOS clinics, online support groups, and comprehensive patient-centered treatment plans can improve health outcomes for women with PCOS.
The EQUATOR guidelines for PRISMA have been utilised.
No patient or public contribution.
To develop a structured intervention aimed at enhancing family communication to reduce relapse in adolescents with depression.
This study follows a multi-stage process guided by the Intervention Mapping procedure with the Medical Research Council framework, assessing the layers of complexity. Its design comprises four interrelated stages to construct a family communication intervention, culminating in a pilot randomised controlled trial.
The program has four stages: (1) Identifying family interaction gaps through literature review and expert input; (2) Investigating communication needs of depressed adolescents and their families via a mixed methods study to develop a model intervention; (3) Refining the intervention with focus groups and expert e-Delphi; and (4) Finalising the intervention based on pilot randomised controlled trial outcomes. The research will be conducted in Greater Accra, Ghana.
The process will result in a family communication intervention tailored to the needs of adolescents with depression and their families. It will be pilot tested, and the results will inform a nationwide efficacy trial.
This research integrates qualitative and quantitative data to inform the development of an evidence-based family communication intervention. The program will carefully examine data integration and contextual challenges encountered during its implementation.
The intervention has the potential to enhance family communication, thus playing a crucial role in adolescent depression recovery by reducing relapse rates. Healthcare professionals will benefit from a structured, evidence-based communication tool that can be used in clinical settings.
The study focuses on improving communication between families of adolescents with depression, aiming to develop a family communication package for clinical and community use. This intervention may enhance recovery outcomes and reduce relapse risk for adolescents.
This study adhered to the GUIDED guideline for reporting intervention development studies.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
Ethnic minoritized women face cultural and systemic barriers in accessing antepartum and intrapartum care. Healthcare providers play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges, but their perspectives and experiences in delivering culturally competent care remain underexplored.
To synthesise healthcare providers' experiences and perspectives on providing culturally competent antepartum and intrapartum care for ethnic minoritised women.
A qualitative meta-synthesis study design was employed. Six electronic databases were searched from their inception date till January 2025. The included studies were assessed using the method of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool, and findings were meta-synthesised using Sandelowski and Barroso's six-step approach. This review was registered via the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.
Overall, 38 studies were included, and three themes emerged. The first theme revealed how providers' biases and professional training distorted their ability to understand and respect cultural practices. The second theme underscored the impact of systemic barriers such as time constraints, resource scarcity and lack of representation among providers. The final theme highlighted healthcare providers' aspirations for improved communication, targeted training and guidance on building trust to enhance care delivery.
Healthcare providers encounter notable challenges in delivering culturally competent antepartum and intrapartum care, but remain hopeful about bridging gaps in communication and understanding. Practical recommendations include implementing mandatory cultural competency training at all levels of healthcare professional education, increasing resources for interpreters and cultural liaisons and fostering diversity within the healthcare workforce. Future research should explore patient-centred interventions and systemic reforms to improve care for ethnic minoritised women. These findings highlight the need for policies and practices that empower providers to deliver equitable, culturally respectful antepartum and intrapartum care.
No patient or public contribution.
To examine the factors affecting employed mothers' exclusive breastfeeding by testing Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory.
A cross-sectional study was conducted.
A random sample of 201 employed mothers who had given birth 6 months ago was recruited from two hospitals and two primary healthcare centres in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires that included background characteristics and valid and reliable Arabic measures. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to analyse the data across ecological levels.
More than a third (36.8%) of employed mothers did not practice exclusive breastfeeding. The logistic regression with four ecological levels (individual characteristics, microsystem, exosystem, and macrosystem) explained 42.9% of the variance in employed mothers' exclusive breastfeeding. In the final model, the significant gendered predictors of exclusive breastfeeding were perception of milk supply (OR = 1.029), mental health status (OR = 0.931), workplace support (OR = 1.024), and social norms (OR = 2.009).
Breastfeeding among employed mothers is predicted by gender-based factors, including perceived milk insufficiency, maternal mental health burden, workplace conditions, and social norms. This underscores the importance of developing multi-level programmes that empower women to follow the recommended breastfeeding practices.
During routine care, healthcare providers should assess the perception of milk supply and maternal mental health. They should advocate for flexible workplace policies that enable women to breastfeed and develop community campaigns targeting social norms.
The findings show the effect of key gendered factors on exclusive breastfeeding among employed mothers. These findings can inform maternal healthcare practices, gender-sensitive workplace policies, and social norm transformation.
The study follows STROBE reporting guidelines.
No patient or public contribution.
To review the evidence on the experiences and perceptions of culturally and linguistically diverse informal carers supporting older adults during transitions from hospital to home, including their interactions with transitional care interventions.
Scoping review guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework.
We searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, AMED, PsycINFO, Global Health, Social Work Abstracts, JBI EBP, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, ProQuest and Informit for studies published between January 2010 and November 2024.
Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. Analysis followed the Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for Practice and Research recommendations framework.
Seventeen studies involving 1275 carers were included. Carer experiences were summarised into four themes: (1) cultural and communication barriers; (2) role ambiguity and practical challenges; (3) limited involvement in discharge planning and (4) barriers to accessing support and services. Perceptions of transitional care interventions were mixed. While some interventions improved carer preparedness and reduced stress, most lacked cultural tailoring and did not address carers' psychosocial and communication needs.
Culturally and linguistically diverse informal carers face challenges navigating transitional care. While involving them in care planning improves outcomes, implementation remains inconsistent. Emotional support and culturally tailored services are insufficient.
There is a need for culturally and linguistically tailored transitional care programmes that prioritise carer education and communication support. Key areas for improvement include: (1) health literacy and system navigation; (2) involvement in care planning; (3) communication with providers; (4) psychosocial and emotional support and (5) culturally appropriate services. Future research should explore the unique emotional and psychosocial needs of these carers to inform targeted support strategies.
This review follows the PRISMA guideline for reporting.
No patient or public contribution.
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