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Background: Prolonged packing of anorectal abscess cavities with internal dressings after incision and drainage is frequently used, but the efficacy of this practice remains controversial. Some studies highlight its use in hemostasis and preventing fistula and abscess recurrence, whereas others describe its economic burden and increase in pain. In this systematic review, we examine current evidence on the impact of packing after incision and drainage for anorectal abscesses. Methods: The medical librarian conducted a comprehensive literature search on January 5, 2023. We conducted the meta-analysis using RevMan 5.4.1 software with a Mantel-Haenszel random-effects model. Results: We identified 3 randomized controlled trials, comprising 490 patients. Of those, 241 patients (49%) received postoperative packing; most patients were male (n =158, 65.6%), with a median age of 40.5 years and a follow-up of 6 months. Meta-analysis showed that prolonged wound packing was associated with delayed wound healing and increased pain, but no difference in abscess recurrence or fistula formation. Conclusion: In this systematic review of current evidence highlighting the impact of packing after incision and drainage for anorectal abscesses, we found that the practice is not associated with significant differences in abscess recurrence and fistula formation, but is associated with increased postoperative pain and delayed wound healing. Contexte : On a souvent recours un m chage prolong des cavit s d'abc s anorectaux apr s l'incision et drainage, mais son efficacit n'a pas t tablie. Certaines tudes mentionnent son utilisation pour l'h mostase et la pr vention des fistules et des r currences d'abc s, tandis que d'autres soulignent son co t et un accroissement de la douleur. Dans cette revue syst matique, nous analysons les donn es r centes sur l'impact du m chage apr s l'incision et drainage des abc s anorectaux. M thodes : La biblioth que m dicale a t charg e de proc der une interrogation globale de la litt rature le 5 janvier 2023. Nous avons effectu une m ta-analyse l'aide du logiciel RevMan 5.4.1 et d'un mod le effets al atoires de Mantel-Haenszel. R sultats : Nous avons retenu 3 essais randomis s et contr l s regroupant 490 personnes, dont 241 (49%) chez qui une m che a t install e apr s l'intervention; la plupart des participants taient de sexe masculin (n = 158, 65,6%), l' ge moyen tait de 40,5 ans et le suivi a dur 6 mois. Selon la m ta-analyse, un m chage prolong de la cavit de l'abc s a t associ un ralentissement de la cicatrisation et une douleur plus marqu e, et n'a rien chang la r currence des abc s ou la formation de fistules. Conclusion : Lors de notre revue syst matique des donn es r centes sur l'impact du m chage apr s l'incision et drainage des abc s anorectaux, nous avons constat que cette pratique n'est pas associ e des diff rences significatives aux plans de la r currence des abc s et de la formation de fistules, mais qu'elle est plut t associ e une augmentation de la douleur postop ratoire et une cicatrisation plus lente de la plaie., Suppurative cryptoglandular anorectal disease refers to a spectrum of anorectal infections involving blockage of the base of the anal crypts of Morgagni responsible for drainage of secretory anal glands. (1-3) [...]

SUMMARY The proportion of general surgeons with graduate degrees in Canada is increasing. We sought to evaluate the types of graduate degree held by surgeons in Canada, and whether differences [...]

Background: For academic hiring committees and surgical trainees, the benefits of a graduate degree are unclear. We sought to identify if graduate degrees or professorship status were associated with increased research productivity among Canadian academic surgeons. Methods: We included general surgeons from the largest hospitals associated with accredited residency programs. We classified staff surgeons active between 2013 and 2018 by degree (MD only, master's degree, PhD) and professorship (assistant, associate, professor) status. We identified their publications from January 2013 to December 2018. Variables of interest included publications per year, citations per article, journal of publication, CiteScore, author's Hirsch (h) index and the revised b-index (r-index). We used Kruskal--Wallis tests and the Dunn multiple comparison test to assess statistical significance. Results: We identified 3262 publications from 187 surgeons, including 78 (41.7%) with no graduate degree, 84 (44.9%) with master's degrees and 25 (13.4%) with PhDs. Surgeons with graduate degrees had more publications per year, higher CiteScores, more citations per article, and higher h- and r-indices than those without graduate degrees. Surgeons with doctorates had the highest median values in all domains, but differences were not significant compared with surgeons with master's degrees. Seventy-seven (41.8%) surgeons were assistant professors, 63 (34.2%) were associate professors and 44 (23.9%) were full professors. Statistically, full professors had a greater number of publications per year and higher h- and r-indices than their counterparts. Conclusion: Surgeons with graduate degrees or more advanced professorships had the greatest research productivity. Surgeons with doctorates trended toward greater research productivity than those holding master's degrees. Contexte : Pour les comités d'embauche universitaires et les chirurgiens en formation, les avantages d'un diplôme d'études supérieures sont flous. Nous avons voulu vérifier si les diplômes d'études supérieures ou le statut au sein du corps professoral étaient associés à une plus grande productivité en recherche chez les professeurs de chirurgie canadiens. Méthodes : Nous avons inclus les chirurgiens généraux des plus grands hôpitaux offrant des programmes de résidence agréés. Nous avons classé les chirurgiens attachés aux établissements qui étaient actifs entre 2013 et 2018 selon leurs types de diplômes (MD seulement, maîtrise, PhD) et leur statut de professeur (adjoint, agrégé, titulaire). Nous avons recensé leurs publications de janvier 2013 à décembre 2018. Les variables d'intérêt incluaient le nombre de publications annuelles, le nombre de citations par article, les revues/journaux les ayant publiés, l'indicateur CiteScore et leurs indices Hirsch (h) et h révisé (r). Nous avons utilisé des tests de Kruskal-Wallis et le test de comparaisons multiples de Dunn pour en mesurer la portée statistique. Résultats : Nous avons recensé 3262 publications de 187 chirurgiens, dont 78 (41,7%) ne détenaient pas de diplôme d'études supérieures, 84 (44,9%) avaient un diplôme de maîtrise et 25 (13,4%) détenaient un PhD. Les chirurgiens qui avaient des diplômes d'études supérieures avaient publié davantage, présentaient un indicateur CiteScore plus élevé, avaient plus de citations par article et des indices h et r plus élevés par rapport à ceux qui n'avaient pas de diplômes d'études supérieures. Les chirurgiens détenteurs d'un PhD avaient la valeur médiane la plus élevée dans tous les domaines, mais les différences n'étaient pas statistiquement significatives par rapport aux chirurgiens détenteurs d'une maîtrise. Soixante-dix-sept (41,8%) chirurgiens étaient professeurs adjoints, 63 (34,2%) étaient professeurs agrégés et 44 (23,9%) étaient professeurs titulaires. Au plan statistique, ces derniers avaient un plus grand nombre de publications par année et des indices h et r plus élevés comparativement à leurs collègues. Conclusion : Les chirurgiens détenteurs d'un diplôme d'études supérieures ou de statut professoral plus élevé avaient la plus grande productivité en termes de recherche. Les chirurgiens détenteurs d'un PhD tendaient à avoir une plus grande productivité en recherche, comparativement aux détenteurs de maîtrises., Academic general surgery in Canada continues to transform, with additional fellowship or research training becoming increasingly common for surgeons holding academic positions. (1,2) More than 60% of surgeons hired in [...]

Background: Early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a strategy to address the increasing human and economic costs of this condition. This study aimed to inform pharmacists' case-finding strategies by providing an overview of case-finding approaches by health care practitioners. Methods: A scoping review was conducted based on the Joanna Briggs Institute and the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR) guidelines. Included studies were analyzed under the following themes: population characteristics, inclusion and exclusion criteria, setting, case-finding strategies and yield, health care practitioners involved, interprofessional collaboration and the provision of preventive services. Studies were then characterized by highest yields (the weighted average of each approach expressed as a percentage of the total number of new COPD cases divided by the total number of patients screened using the same approach). Results: The screening process produced 170 eligible studies. Twenty case-finding approaches with average yields of new COPD cases ranging from 3.8% to 29% were identified. The approach with the highest yield involved the use of a questionnaire, peak flow meter and pre–post spirometry. In 14 of these approaches, the process was initiated with the use of questionnaires. In many of the studies, case-finding was targeted at high-risk and/or symptomatic patients. Characteristics of studies with the highest case-finding yields included provider education/training, patient education, active screening, multistep approaches to case-finding, provider engagement, diagnostic criteria by guidelines and engagement of other health care practitioners. Conclusion: In our scoping review of case-finding methods for patients with COPD, we found the greatest yield from pre–post spirometry following initial screening with a peak flow meter and questionnaire. Pharmacists and health researchers can use these approaches to identify high-risk patients for interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries across Canada and United States are adopting diversity initiatives to encourage inclusive library environments and services. Many policies and frameworks have a user-centered approach. However, there is little focus on encouraging diverse service providers in the library. The aim of this study is to determine the strategic approaches that academic libraries are using in their efforts to recruit and retain diverse librarians. Systematic review methodology involved searching Library & Information Science Abstracts, Library & Information Science Source, Gender Studies Database, Race Relations Abstracts, Google, and grey literature composed primarily of information from library associations' and organizations' websites. The primary search terms (and their variations) include diversity, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomics, academic library, librarians, recruitment, and retention. Publications were included if they were about the recruitment and/or retention strategies used by academic libraries to improve diversity among librarians. Nineteen publications and one ALA website were included in the review. All 20 publications were based in a North American context, and the interventions included targeted recruitment strategies, internship or residency programs, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Using a modified version of the CASP [Critical Appraisal Skills Programme] Qualitative Checklist, the publications were critically appraised to evaluate the validity of the findings. Fifty percent of the publications included an assessment component to determine the value of the intervention. Although a number of programs exist to recruit minorities to academic librarianship, the number of visible minorities in the field has remained stagnant for decades.

Accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the brain has been explored as a primary cause of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Better known as the amyloid hypothesis, it has been the main target of researchers vying to bring their therapeutic interventions to market despite several failed attempts by predecessors. In June 2021, Aduhelm (Aducanumab) became the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment for AD based on the amyloid hypothesis in which sparked controversy. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the efficacy of amyloid-beta targeting interventions at all stages of the disease including the prodromal or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage compared to placebo. All completed and terminated Phase III trials are assessed to provide a comprehensive overview of interventions targeting amyloid-beta to inform the legitimacy of the amyloid hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Critical care nephrology is a subspecialty that merges critical care and nephrology in response to shared pathobiology, clinical care, and technological innovations. To date, there has been no description of the highest impact articles. Accordingly, we systematically identified high impact articles in critical care nephrology. Methods: This was a bibliometric analysis. The search was developed by a research librarian. Web of Science was searched for articles published between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2020. Articles required a minimum of 30 citations, publication in English language, and reporting of primary (or secondary) original data. Articles were screened by two reviewers for eligibility and further adjudicated by three experts. The "Top 100" articles were hierarchically ranked by adjudication, citations in the 2 years following publication and journal impact factor (IF). For each article, we extracted detailed bibliometric data. Risk of bias was assessed for randomized trials by the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Analyses were descriptive. Results: The search yielded 2,805 articles. Following initial screening, 307 articles were selected for full review and adjudication. The Top 100 articles were published across 20 journals (median [IQR] IF 10.6 [8.9–56.3]), 38% were published in the 5 years ending in 2020 and 62% were open access. The agreement between adjudicators was excellent (intraclass correlation, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.84–0.99). Of the Top 100, 44% were randomized trials, 35% were observational, 14% were systematic reviews, 6% were nonrandomized interventional studies and one article was a consensus document. The risk of bias among randomized trials was low. Common subgroup themes were RRT (42%), AKI (30%), fluids/resuscitation (14%), pediatrics (10%), interventions (8%), and perioperative care (6%). The citations for the Top 100 articles were 175 (95–393) and 9 were cited >1,000 times. Conclusion: Critical care nephrology has matured as an important subspecialty of critical care and nephrology. These high impact papers have focused largely on original studies, mostly clinical trials, within a few core themes. This list can be leveraged for curricula development, to stimulate research, and for quality assurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is well documented that librarian involvement in systematic reviews generally increases quality of reporting and the review overall. We used bibliometric analysis methods to analyze the level of librarian involvement in systematic reviews conducted at the University of Alberta (U of A). Methods: Using Web of Science (WoS), we searched for systematic reviews completed in the years 2016-2020 with a U of A co-author. Systematic reviews identified through WoS were screened in two phases: (i) exclusion of duplicates, protocols, other types of reviews, and systematic review methodology literature to leave true systematic review publications, and (ii) screening for level of librarian involvement (acknowledgement, co-author, or no involvement). Results: 640 reviews were analyzed for the following categories: (i) librarian named as a coauthor; (ii) librarian named in the acknowledgements section; (iii) librarian mentioned in the body of the manuscript; (iv) no librarian involvement. We identified 152 reviews who named a librarian as a co-author on the paper, 125 reviews named a librarian in the acknowledgements section, and 67 reviews mentioned a librarian in the body of the review without naming them as a co-author or in an acknowledgement. WoS Research Areas were used to identify disciplines that used librarian support and those that did not. A keyword network analysis revealed research areas that were very active in producing systematic reviews, while also providing information on the areas publishing systematic reviews without librarian support. Conclusion: There is a great deal of variation in how the work of librarians is reflected in systematic reviews. This was particularly apparent in reviews where a librarian was mentioned in the body of the review but they were not named as an author or formally acknowledged. Continuing to educate researchers about the work of librarians is crucial to fully represent the value librarians bring to systematic reviews. Bibliometric analysis provides useful insights on service gaps for specific disciplines or research areas that are currently not using librarian support in systematic review publications, which can help inform service planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Twitter is rich in data for text and data analytics research, with the ability to capture trends. Objectives: This study examines Canadian tweets on marijuana legalization and terminology used. Presented as a case study, Twitter analytics will demonstrate the varied applications of how this kind of research method may be used to inform library practice. Methods: Twitter API was used to extract a subset of tweets using seven relevant hashtags. Using open‐source programming tools, the sampled tweets were analysed between September to November 2018, identifying themes, frequently used terms, sentiment, and co‐occurring hashtags. Results: More than 1,176,000 tweets were collected. The most popular hashtag co‐occurrence, two hashtags appearing together, was #cannabis and #CdnPoli. There was a high variance in the sentiment analysis of all collected tweets but most scores had neutral sentiment. Discussion: The case study presents text‐mining applications relevant to help make informed decisions in library practice through service analysis, quality analysis, and collection analysis. Conclusions: Findings from sentiment analysis may determine usage patterns from users. There are several ways in which libraries may use text mining to make evidence‐informed decisions such as examining all possible terminologies used by the public to help inform comprehensive evidence synthesis projects and build taxonomies for digital libraries and repositories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scoping review examined research publications related to health and/or wellness along with gender among Canadian Indigenous populations. The intent was to explore the range of articles on this topic and to identify methods for improving gender-related health and wellness research among Indigenous peoples. Six research databases were searched up to 1 February 2021. The final selection of 155 publications represented empirical research conducted in Canada, included Indigenous populations, investigated health and/or wellness topics and focused on gender. Among the diverse range of health and wellness topics, most publications focused on physical health issues, primarily regarding perinatal care and HIV- and HPV-related issues. Gender diverse people were seldom included in the reviewed publications. Sex and gender were typically used interchangeably. Most authors recommended that Indigenous knowledge and culture be integrated into health programmes and further research. More health research with Indigenous peoples must be conducted in ways that discern sex from gender, uplift the strengths of Indigenous peoples and communities, privilege community perspectives, and attend to gender diversity; using methods that avoid replicating colonialism, promote action, change stories of deficit, and build on what we already know about gender as a critical social determinant of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous crafting practices are increasingly being recognised for their benefit to community connectedness, health, cultural identity, and individual wellbeing. This article explores published literature to determine the role of Indigenous crafting in transferring traditional and cultural teachings from female relatives and Elders to girls and younger women. We examine the effect of crafting on intergenerational cohesion and social connectedness within the Indigenous community. Does crafting serve as an effective conduit for physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental change in learners and teachers? Our review identifies 12 publications that describe Indigenous mostly girls and younger women's experiences as they acquire female Elders', teachers' and older family members' traditional and cultural teachings while participating in crafting activities. The papers identify an array of traditional and cultural activities including: basket weaving, beading, sewing, language acquisition, traditional songs, traditional dance, and storytelling. More contemporary forms of artistic expression such as photography, theatre and film production are also included. Research findings show that learning, teaching and practicing Indigenous crafting is associated with increased intergenerational cohesion, cultural connectedness, and wellbeing for both teachers and learners. Further, learning about Indigenous crafts and activities helps inspire pride in Indigenous identity and promotes healing from historical trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some mental health interventions have addressed mental health among people living with HIV (PLWH) using a variety of approaches, but little is known about the details of such interventions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region that bears the largest burden of HIV in the world. The present study describes mental health interventions for PLWH in SSA regardless of the date and language of publication. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guidelines, we identified 54 peer-reviewed articles on interventions addressing adverse mental health conditions among PLWH in SSA. The studies were conducted in 11 different countries, with the highest number of studies in South Africa (33.3%), Uganda (18.5%), Kenya (9.26%), and Nigeria (7.41%). While only one study was conducted before the year 2000, there was a gradual increase in the number of studies in the subsequent years. The studies were mostly conducted in hospital settings (55.5%), were non-pharmacologic (88.9%), and interventions were mostly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling. Task shifting was the primary implementation strategy used in four studies. Interventions addressing the mental health needs of PLWH that incorporates the unique challenges and opportunities in SSA is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]