1,720,966 research outputs found
Patient and public involvement in health technology assessment: update of a systematic review of international experiences
No full textObjective: To summarize current evidence on patient and public involvement (PPI) in health technology assessment (HTA) in order to synthesize the barriers and facilitators, and to propose a framework to assess its impact. Methods: We conducted an update of a systematic review published in 2011 considering the recent scientific literature (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies). We searched papers published between March 2009 (end of the initial search) and December 2019 in five databases using specific search strategies. We identified other publications through citation tracking and contacting authors of previous related studies. Reviewers independently selected relevant studies based on prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. We extracted information using a pre-established grid. Results: We identified a total of 7872 publications from the main search strategy. Ultimately, thirty-one distinct new studies met the inclusion criteria, whereas seventeen studies were included in the previous systematic review. PPI is realized through two main strategies: (i) patients and public members participate directly in decision-making processes (participation) and (ii) patients or public perspectives are solicited to inform decisions (consultation or indirect participation). This review synthesizes the barriers and facilitators to PPI in HTA, and a framework to assess its impact is proposed. Conclusion: The number of studies on patients or public involvement in HTA has dramatically increased in recent years. Findings from this updated systematic review show that PPI is done mostly through consultation and that direct involvement is less frequent. Several barriers to PPI in HTA exist, notably the lack of information to patients and public about HTA and the lack of guidance and policies to support PPI in HTA
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
No full text“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
No full textWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Sociodemographics and beliefs in PGx testing in older adults
No full textAbstract : Aim: To assess the impact of sociodemographic factors and beliefs about medicine on the uptake of pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing in older adults in a public healthcare system. Methods: Data is based on a sample of 347 primary care older adults. Results: Most respondents (90%) were willing to provide a saliva sample and 47% were willing to pay for it. Increased age (OR:0.91; p=0.04) and negative beliefs about the harmfulness of medicines (OR: 0.68; p=0.02) were associated with a decreased willingness to provide a sample. Lower education (less than university, OR: 0.54; p=0.04) was associated with a decreased willingness to pay. Conclusions: Education and beliefs about medicines are important factors in the acceptability of PGx testing in older adults
Minimal important change of the Short-Form 6-Dimension version 2 in a Quebec population sample
No full textContexte : La quantification des subjectivités associées aux états de santé peut fournir des informations sur la qualité de vie reliée à la santé (QVRS). Pour rendre compte de ces subjectivités dans la mesure de la QVRS, on utilise des instruments d'utilité multi attribut comme le Short-Form 6-Dimension Version 2 (SF-6Dv2). Ces instruments permettent de décrire les états de santé, de dériver les utilités correspondantes et d’estimer le changement minimal important (CMI) qui est spécifique à différents groupes de populations, afin de tirer des inférences sur l'état de santé de la population. Le CMI est ici un point central correspondant à la variation minimale considérée comme importante dans la QVRS par les répondants. Le but de cette étude est de déceler le seuil de CMI du SF-6Dv2 pour un échantillon de la communauté québécoise.
Méthodes : Une enquête en ligne auprès de la population générale adulte du Québec a été menée entre mars 2020 et septembre 2021 pendant six cycles ou intervalles de temps. Le questionnaire SF-6Dv2 a été administré à chaque cycle, ainsi qu’une question sur la perception d’un changement dans l’état de santé (‘Global Rating of Change’) à partir du cycle 2. Les scores d’utilité en santé ont été calculés pour chaque participant à l’aide de deux ensembles de valeurs de référence (‘value set’), soit pour le Royaume-Uni et le Québec. Actuellement il n'existe pas de value set canadien pour le SF-6Dv2 et le value set québécois n'était disponible qu'en 2023. Une analyse des données avec des méthodes basées sur la distribution et l’ancrage a été effectuée pour déterminer les valeurs de CMI.
Résultats : En considérant que les participants avec les réponses 2 ou 4 à la question du ‘Global Rating of Change’ ont connu un changement minimal dans leur état de santé, le CMI calculé avec la pondération du Royaume-Uni était de 0,030 (IC 95% [0,023 ; 0,038], valeur p < 0,001) et pour le Québec de 0,029 (IC 95% [0,023 ; 0,036], valeur p < 0,001) pour le SF-6Dv2. Les méthodes basées sur la distribution ont permis d'obtenir une réponse moyenne standardisée (SRM) de 0,134 et 0,152 avec les ensembles de valeurs du Royaume-Uni et du Québec, respectivement. La taille de l'effet et le demi-écart-type ont également été calculés (0,106 et 0,143 avec Royaume-Uni) (0,115 et 0,127 avec Québec).
Conclusion : Le CMI calculé valide la bonne sensibilité (réactivité) du SF-6Dv2 dans la population générale du Québec et fournit une estimation du seuil minimalement important pour les participants. Le CMI permet d’interpréter la QVRS calculée et l’utiliser pour comprendre si la santé s'est significativement améliorée ou détériorée du point de vue des répondants. Les études d’évaluation des technologies de la santé et de prise de décision deviennent ainsi plus valables, car elles tiennent compte de la subjectivité individuelle ressentie et associée à un état de santé particulier, en plus des résultats cliniques objectifs.Background: Quantifying subjectivities associated with health states can offer information on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). To account for such subjectivities on HRQoL we use multi attribute utility instruments such as the Short-Form 6-Dimension version 2 (SF-6Dv2). They allow health state description, derive corresponding health utilities, and provide an estimate of minimal important change (MIC) which is specific to different population groups, for inferences on population health. MIC is a central point corresponding to the minimal change in HRQoL that is considered important by the participant. The aim of this study was to find the minimal important change of a generic preference-based instrument, the SF-6Dv2 for a Quebec community sample.
Methods: An online survey of the adult general population in Quebec was conducted between March 2020 and September 2021 over six time intervals. SF-6Dv2 was administered at each cycle and a global rating of change question was also administered in the follow-up cycles starting from cycle 2. Health utilities were calculated for each participant using a United Kingdom (UK) based value set (preference weights) and a Quebec value set. At present a Canadian value set is not available for SF-6Dv2 and the Quebec value set was developed in 2023. Data analysis was performed with both anchor and distribution-based methods to ascertain the MIC values.
Results: Considering the participants who chose 2 or 4 in the Global Rating of Change question as having experienced a minimal change in health state, the MIC calculated with UK value set was 0.03 (95% CI [0.023 ; 0.038], p-value < 0.001) and with Quebec value set 0.0293 (95% CI [0,023 ; 0,036], p-value < 0,001) for SF-6Dv2. Distribution-based methods yielded a standardized response mean (SRM) of 0.134 and 0.152 with the UK and Quebec value sets, respectively. Effect size and half a standard deviation were 0.106, 0.143 for UK and 0.115, 0.127 for Quebec, respectively.
Conclusion: The MIC calculated hence validates SF-6Dv2’s responsiveness in the general population and estimates a utility score minimally important to the participants. This MIC enables HRQoL calculated from such instruments to be appropriately interpreted and to understand if health has improved or deteriorated from the participant’s perspective. Further rendering health technology evaluation and decision-making studies more valid by accounting for the subjectivity felt and associated with a particular health state, apart from the objective clinical results
Confinement et qualité de vie reliée à la santé au Québec : analyse des liens entre santé mentale et situation d’emploi
No full textContexte. Déclarée pandémie mondiale par l’Organisation mondiale de la santé, la COVID-19 a profondément bouleversé les dynamiques économiques, sociales et sanitaires. Pour freiner sa propagation, des mesures restrictives, dont le confinement, ont été mises en place dès mars 2020 au Québec. Ces mesures ont potentiellement compromis la qualité de vie reliée à la santé (QVRS), un concept multidimensionnel englobant les dimensions physiques, psychologiques et sociales de la santé. Objectif Cette étude vise à évaluer l’impact des mesures de confinement sur la QVRS de la population adulte québécoise, en tenant compte de la situation professionnelle des individus. Méthodes Une enquête en ligne a été menée en sept cycles, entre mars 2020 et mars 2022, auprès d’un échantillon stratifié représentatif de la population adulte du Québec (minimum de 1 500 répondants par cycle). Trois instruments validés – SF-6Dv2, EQ-5D-5L et CORE-6D – ont été utilisés pour mesurer la QVRS selon la méthode des années de vie ajustées par la qualité (AVAQ). L’analyse repose sur un modèle linéaire en moindres carrés ordinaires (MCO), basé sur le cadre conceptuel de Lu et Lin (2021), en intégrant également les scores DASS-21 pour évaluer la santé mentale. Résultats Les résultats confirment que le confinement est négativement associé à la QVRS, principalement en raison de la détérioration de la santé mentale. Les personnes ayant vécu une instabilité professionnelle présentent une QVRS significativement inférieure, accompagnée d’une détresse psychologique accrue et de difficultés financières. Ces effets sont particulièrement marqués chez les jeunes adultes, les femmes et les personnes à faible revenu. Ces résultats soulignent l'importance d'intégrer les déterminants socio-économiques dans les politiques de gestion des crises sanitaires afin de mieux protéger les populations vulnérables.Background. Declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, COVID-19 has profoundly disrupted economic, social, and health systems worldwide. In response to its rapid spread, restrictive measures, including lockdowns, were implemented in Québec as early as March 2020. These measures potentially compromised health-related quality of life (HRQoL), a multidimensional concept encompassing physical, psychological, and social aspects of health. Objective This study aims to assess the impact of lockdown measures on the HRQoL of the adult population in Quebec, with particular attention to individuals’ employment situations. Methods An online survey was conducted across seven waves between March 2020 and March 2022, targeting a stratified sample representative of the adult population in Quebec (minimum 1,500 respondents per cycle). Three validated instruments —SF-6Dv2, EQ-5D-5L, and CORE-6D— were used to assess HRQoL based on the Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) approach. The analysis was conducted using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) linear regression model grounded in the conceptual framework of Lu and Lin (2021), and included DASS-21 scores to evaluate mental health outcomes. Results Findings confirm that lockdown is negatively associated with HRQoL, primarily through a significant decline in mental health. Individuals experiencing employment instability reported lower HRQoL, higher psychological distress, and increased financial hardship. These effects were particularly pronounced among young adults, women, and low-income individuals. The results highlight the importance of incorporating socio-economic determinants into public health crisis management policies to better protect vulnerable populations
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
No full textWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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