Scoping review of the methodology of large health surveys conducted in Spain early on in the COVID-19 pandemic

This work was partially supported by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion of Spain (Grants PID2019-106861RB-I00, PI20/00855, and PI22/00512, respectively) and CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP).The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023. 1217519/full#supplementary-materialBackground: The use of health surveys has been key in the scientific community to promptly communicate results about the health impact of COVID-19. But what information was collected, where, when and how, and who was the study population? Objective: To describe the methodological characteristics used in large health surveys conducted in Spain early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Scoping review. Inclusion criteria: observational studies published between January 2020 and December 2021, with sample sizes of over 2,000 persons resident in Spain. Databases consulted: PubMed, CINAHL, Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en CC de la Salud, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, Sociological Abstracts, Dialnet and Web of Science Core Collection. We analyzed the characteristics of the literature references, methodologies and information gathered in the surveys selected. Fifty five studies were included. Results: Sixty percentage of the studies included had mental health as their main topic and 75% were conducted on the general adult population. Thirteen percentage had a longitudinal design, 93% used the internet to gather information and the same percentage used non-probability sampling. Thirty percentage made some type of sampling correction to reduce coverage or non-response biases, but not selection biases. Sixty seven percentage did not state the availability of their data. Conclusions: Consistent with the extensive use of non-probability sampling without any bias correction in the extraordinary setting created by COVID-19, quality population frameworks are required so that probability and representative samples can be extracted quickly to promptly address other health crises, as well as to reduce potential coverage, non-response and particularly selection biases by utilizing reweighting techniques. The low data accessibility despite the huge opportunity that COVID-19 provided for Open Science-based research is striking.Competitividad and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion of Spain PID2019-106861RB-I00, PI20/00855, PI22/00512Spanish Governmen

Evaluating the information retrieval quality and methodological accuracy of Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis on of congenital malformations (2004-2014).

Introduction Systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) aim to provide an in-depth summary of the literature of a research question, which must achieve some methodological requirements especially regarding how the information is retrieved and organized. There are several guidelines with recommendations for standard SRs or MAs. However, how often do those publications fulfil all the conditions to be considered SRs or MAs? Objectives Our aim is to check if articles using the terms 'systematic review' or 'meta-analysis' in the title accomplish the established requirements, focusing on search and methodology. The secondary objective is to observe if librarians have participated in a visible manner in the process. Methods We first created a checklist starting with some PRISMA points related to the literature search methodology and the documentation of the process. We added other common elements from the main methodological manuals for SR (including CRD, Cochrane, EUnetHTA, among others). Finally, we completed it with some items of the CADTH Checklist. Our final list consists of 20 evaluation criteria within the subject ‘congenital malformations’. To obtain the sample we searched in Medline/Pubmed and Embase for documents published between 2004 and 2014 and containing the terms SR or MA in their title. We limited languages to English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. We obtained 162 records after excluding duplicates and non-valid documents (letters, etc.). Once we obtain the full texts, we independently checked if the publications met our criteria. A second reviewer was consulted in cases of doubt. Results Among all the data, we highlight the following: - Around 80% do not show PICO’s questions, and around 60% specify bias - Information sources are explained in approximately 70% of the records. Around 60% describe the fully search strategies and nearly 50% combine electronic with manual searches - 20% of them use other additional sources or other types of documents - Around 30% use a thesaurus, and a similar number combines controlled vocabulary with natural language - Less than 10% of the studies mentioned a librarian Conclusions Although we cannot affirm that our sample is sufficiently representative, the fact remains that since most of the studies analysed are lacking in method and resources, and that is quite alarming. Authors and publishers must bear in mind the existing guidelines. Additionally, the involvement of information specialists would be a key factor in improving the quality of SR and MA.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Accommodative and binocular disorders in preteens with computer vision syndrome: a cross-sectional study

To assess computer vision syndrome (CVS) in a preteen population through an adult-validated CVS questionnaire and to evaluate how digital devices affect accommodative and binocular vision, we enrolled 309 preteens in this cross-sectional study. An adult-validated CVS questionnaire adapted to preteens was used for all subjects. Visual acuity testing, unilateral and alternate cover tests, and tests for accommodative and vergence responses were performed for all preteens. The mean age was 10.75 ± 0.67 (10–12) years. Subjects were divided into two groups: the mild CVS group with a mean CVS score ≤2 and the severe CVS group with a mean CVS score >2. Between the mild and severe CVS groups, statistically significant differences were found in near point of convergence break and recovery (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively) and distance negative fusional vergence break and recovery (P = 0.02 and P < 0.01, respectively). More children with severe CVS developed vergence disorders than those with mild CVS. Optometric clinical screening assessments could reduce ocular symptomatology and prevent long-term effects. However, poor optometric findings might have occurred first, and the poor convergence skills resulted in the symptoms reported while using devices

The Combined Effect of Low-dose Atropine with Orthokeratology in Pediatric Myopia Control: Review of the Current Treatment Status for Myopia

Pediatric myopia has become a major international public health concern. The prevalence of myopia has undergone a significant increase worldwide. The purpose of this review of the current literature was to evaluate the peer-reviewed scientific literature on the efficacy and safety of low-dose atropine treatment combined with overnight orthokeratology for myopia control. A search was conducted in Pubmed and Web of Science with the following search strategy: (atropine OR low-dose atropine OR 0.01% atropine) AND (orthokeratology OR ortho-k) AND (myopia control OR myopia progression). All included studies improved myopia control by the synergistic effect of orthokeratology with low-dose atropine, compared with orthokeratology treatment alone. All studies included a short or medium follow-up period; therefore longer-term studies are necessary to validate these results

Choroidal thickness assessment in keratoconus patients treated with cross-linking compared to healthy population.

Purpose: To analyze the choroidal thickness between patients with keratoconus undergoing cross-linking treatment and a healthy population, as well as to determine the factors that influence choroidal thickness. Methods: This was an observational, analytical, case–control study that was conducted from February 2021 to June 2021. Choroidal thickness was measured at different locations, including the subfoveal, nasal (1000 μm), temporal (1000 μm), superior (1000 μm) and inferior (1000 μm) locations using a Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging, which allowed us to obtain horizontal and vertical B-scans centered on the fovea. Results: This study included 21 patients with keratoconus (mean age, 21.86 ± 5.28 years) and 28 healthy patients (mean age, 24.21 ± 4.71 years). Choroidal thickness was significantly greater in patients with keratoconus than in healthy patients in each of the following measured locations: subfoveal (P < 0.001); nasal (1000 μm) (P < 0.001), temporal (1000 μm) (P < 0.001), superior (1000 μm) (P < 0.001) and inferior (1000 μm) (P < 0.001) locations. Variables such as age (ρ = − 0.09; P = 0.50) and refraction (ρ = 0.14; P = 0.34) were not found to be associated with choroidal thickness. In a stepwise multiple linear regression, the group was the single variable correlated with choroidal thickness (β = 0.88; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Choroidal thickness is thicker in keratoconus patients treated with cross-linking than in the healthy population. This finding could be associated with inflammatory choroidal mechanisms in keratoconus patients, but more studies are needed. Age and refractive error do not seem to influence choroidal thickness. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V

A method for sensitivity analysis to assess the effects of measurement error in multiple exposure variables using external validation data

Measurement error in self-reported dietary intakes is known to bias the association between dietary intake and a health outcome of interest such as risk of a disease. The association can be distorted further by mismeasured confounders, leading to invalid results and conclusions. It is, however, difficult to adjust for the bias in the association when there is no internal validation data

Health libraries: sharing through gaming

Information science is a fast-changing field, and medical librarians need to develop their roles to meet the users’new requirements. The professional development becomes a major challenge, not only regarding the core activities, but also in the way librarians and users can learn in a more innovative way. In order to invent new tools for training, a group of librarians with different backgrounds decided to create a game inspired by the “Bucket ofdoom”, which is described as a “Card game that meets storytelling with a sprinkling of comedy”. This adapted version for health libraries will face players with real professional situations. To overcome each challenge and have fun, librarians must use their experience and imagination with a high dose of creativity and humour

Visual system and motor development in children: a systematic review

Purpose The aim of this study was to review the available scientific literature on the possible relationship between the visual system and motor development in children.MethodsThis study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) statement recommendations. The review protocol is available in PROSPERO (CRD42021245341). Four different databases, namely Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science, were assessed from April 2005 to February 2021. To determine the quality of the articles, we used the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Quality Appraisal Scale, and a protocol was followed to define the levels of evidence on the basis of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence. The search strategy included terms describing motor development in children and adolescents with visual disorders.Results Among the identified studies, 23 were included in the study. All selected articles examined the relationship between the visual system and development in children. The quality of most of the studies was moderate–high, and they were between evidence levels 2 and 4.ConclusionsOur systematic review revealed that all included studies established a relationship between the visual system and development in children. However, the methods for measuring the visual system and motor skills lacked uniformity

Prophylactic corneal crosslinking in myopic small-incision lenticule extraction - Long-term visual and refractive outcomes

Purpose: To analyze the efficacy, safety, predictability, and stability in myopic and astigmatic small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) with simultaneous prophylactic corneal crosslinking (CXL) in thin corneas. Methods: A total of 48 eyes from 24 patients who underwent myopic and astigmatism SMILE with simultaneous prophylactic CXL were included in this retrospective study. All patients had a 24-month follow-up. A femtosecond laser was performed with VisuMax (Carl Zeiss Meditec). CXL treatment was applied when the predicted stromal thickness was less than 330 μm. Results: The patients’ mean age was 31.58 ± 6.23 years. The previous mean spherical equivalent was − 6.85 ± 1.80 (−9.75 to − 2.00) D. The postoperative mean spherical equivalent was − 0.50 ± 0.26 (−1.00 to + 0.25) D; 60% of the eyes had 20/20 or better; 19% lost one line; 58% were within ± 0.50 D; and 8.3% of the eyes changed 0.50 D or more between 3 and 24 months. Conclusion: Prophylactic CXL with simultaneous SMILE for myopia and astigmatism femtosecond laser surgery technique appears to be partially effective, safe, predictable, and stable after 24 months of follow-up

Vision Development Differences between Slow and Fast Motor Development in Typical Developing Toddlers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Many studies have established a relationship between visual function and motor development in toddlers. This is the first report to study two-year-olds via an assessment of their visual and motor skills. The purpose of this study is to describe the possible changes that can occur between visual and motor systems in typical developing toddlers. A total of 116 toddlers were included in this observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Their mean age was 29.57 +/- 3.45 months. Motor development variables studied were dominant hand/foot; stationary, locomotion, object manipulation, grasping, visual motor integration percentiles; gross motor, fine motor, and total motor percentiles; and gross motor, fine motor, and total motor quotients. Visual development variables were assessed including visual acuity, refractive error, ocular alignment, motor fusion and suppression, ocular motility, and stereopsis. Our findings demonstrated that typical developing toddlers with slow gross motor development had higher exophoria and further near point of convergence values compared to toddlers with fast gross motor development (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in visual acuity and stereopsis between slow and fast gross motor development toddlers