How to improve scientific peer review: Four schools of thought.

Peer review plays an essential role as one of the cornerstones of the scholarly publishing system. There are many initiatives that aim to improve the way in which peer review is organized, resulting in a highly complex landscape of innovation in peer review. Different initiatives are based on different views on the most urgent challenges faced by the peer review system, leading to a diversity of perspectives on how the system can be improved.

Where next for partial randomisation of research funding? The feasibility of RCTs and alternatives.

We outline essential considerations for any study of partial randomisation of research funding, and consider scenarios in which randomised controlled trials (RCTs) would be feasible and appropriate. We highlight the interdependence of target outcomes, sample availability and statistical power for determining the cost and feasibility of a trial. For many choices of target outcome, RCTs may be less practical and more expensive than they at first appear (in large part due to issues pertaining to sample size and statistical power).

An overview of innovations in the external peer review of journal manuscripts.

There are currently numerous innovations in peer review and quality assurance in scholarly publishing. The Research on Research Institute conducted a programme of co-produced projects investigating these innovations. This literature review was part of one such project 'Experiments in peer review' which created an inventory and framework of peer review innovations.

Incentivising research data sharing: a scoping review.

Numerous mechanisms exist to incentivise researchers to share their data. This scoping review aims to identify and summarise evidence of the efficacy of different interventions to promote open data practices and provide an overview of current research. This scoping review is based on data identified from Web of Science and LISTA, limited from 2016 to 2021.

Governance of Intersectoral Collaborations for Population Health and to Reduce Health Inequalities in High-Income Countries: A Complexity-Informed Systematic Review.

Background: A 'Health in All Policies' (HiAP) approach has been widely advocated as a way to involve multiple government sectors in addressing health inequalities, but implementation attempts have not always produced the expected results. Explaining how HiAP-style collaborations have been governed may offer insights into how to improve population health and reduce health inequalities.

Methods: Theoretically focused systematic review.

Should screening for risk of gambling-related harm be undertaken in health, care and support settings? A systematic review of the international evidence.

Background: Gambling-related harm is an increasing recognised problem internationally. Recent years have seen an explosion in opportunities to gamble, both in person and online. Health and other care settings have the potential to act as screening sites to identify and support gamblers who may be at high risk of experiencing gambling-related harm.

Interventions to reduce the public health burden of gambling-related harms: a mapping review.

Recognition is growing that gambling, although highly profitable for corporations and governments, is a source of serious and unevenly distributed harm. This recognition has led to demands for public health strategies at the local, national, and international levels. We aimed to identify review-level evidence for interventions to address or prevent gambling-related harms and explore policy implications, using stakeholder consultation to assess the evidence base, identify gaps, and suggest key research questions.

Measuring quality of life in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a systematic review of the content and structural validity of commonly used instruments.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an inherited X-linked neuromuscular disorder. A number of questionnaires are available to assess quality of life in DMD, but there are concerns about their validity. This systematic review aimed to appraise critically the content and structural validity of quality of life instruments for DMD.

Are Current Reporting Standards Used to Describe Health State Utilities in Cost-Effectiveness Models Satisfactory?

Objective: The aims of this study were to examine current reporting standards of health state utilities (HSU) using a review of published cost-effectiveness analyses in cardiovascular disease and to explore the impact of variation in model inputs used in these on estimated quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and cost-effectiveness.

Methods: Key health/economics bibliographic databases were searched to identify relevant articles published after 2014. Any narrative or values relating to the HSU used in the model were extracted and reviewed.

Expediting learning through peer teaching: experiences with the Jigsaw technique.

When designing a teaching session, lack of time and the weight of custom and practice can lead to methods being repeated routinely (Woods, 2013a). The institutional context and student demographic are also fundamental in determining teaching design (Fry, Ketteridge & Marshall, 2015). In this feature, a versatile teaching method (Jigsaw) is described with reference to theories of learning.

A review of quality of life themes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy for patients and carers.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, life-limiting and incurable condition. However, studies estimating quality of life and those measuring actual quality of life in people living with DMD vary considerably. This discrepancy indicates potential difficulties with assessing quality of life using common generic quality of life instruments in this rare and unique population.

Impact of Carotid Artery Stenosis on Quality of Life: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify themes that determine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with carotid artery stenosis and identify the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) that best cover the identified themes.

Methods: A systematic review of the main six databases from inception to September 2018 was undertaken to identify primary qualitative studies reporting on the HRQoL of patients with carotid artery stenosis. The quality of studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) criteria.

Should Adults With Mild Head Injury Who Are Receiving Direct Oral Anticoagulants Undergo Computed Tomography Scanning? A Systematic Review.

Study Objective: Patients receiving direct oral anticoagulant medications commonly undergo computed tomography head scanning after mild traumatic brain injury, regardless of symptoms or signs. International guidelines have noted a lack of evidence to support management decisions for such patients. This systematic review aims to identify, appraise, and synthesize the current evidence for the risk of adverse outcome in patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants after mild head injury.

Themes that Determine Quality of Life in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify domains that determine quality of life in patients with peripheral arterial disease and find the patient-reported outcome measures that can examine the identified themes.

Methods: A systematic review of all the main six databases was undertaken to identify primary qualitative studies reporting on the health and/or quality of life of patients with peripheral arterial disease. The quality of studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program criteria.

The association between long-term conditions and uptake of population-based screening for colorectal cancer: results from two English cohort studies.

Introduction: Uptake of screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) can reduce mortality, and population-based screening is offered in England. To date, there is little evidence on the association between having a long-term condition (LTC) and CRC screening uptake. The objective of this study was to examine the association between having an LTC and uptake of CRC screening in England with the guaiac fecal occult blood test, with a particular focus on common mental disorders.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Carotid Artery Revascularization: Systematic Review and Psychometric Analysis.

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) provide a way to measure the impact of a disease and its associated treatments on the quality of life (QoL) from the patients' perspective. The aim of this review was to identify PROMs that have been developed and/or validated in patients with carotid artery stenosis (CAS) undergoing revascularization and to assess their psychometric properties and examine suitability for research and clinical use.

Methods: Eight electronic databases including MEDLINE and CINAHL were searched using a 2-stage search approach to identify studies reporting the development and/or validation of relevant PROMs in patients with CAS undergoing revascularization.

A systematic review of qualitative research into people's experiences of living with venous leg ulcers.

Aim: To systematically identify, evaluate and synthesize qualitative research that examined the symptoms and health-related quality of life themes that are important from the perspective of patients with venous leg ulceration.

Background: Venous leg ulceration is a common chronic condition; the symptoms and associated treatments have a negative effect on health-related quality of life. Qualitative research methods can provide insight into the personal experiences of patients with venous leg ulceration.

GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING AND EXPANDED IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY TESTS TO GUIDE SELECTION OF CHEMOTHERAPY REGIMENS IN BREAST CANCER MANAGEMENT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Objectives: The aim of this report was to assess the clinical effectiveness of two Gene expression profiling (GEP) and two expanded immunohistochemistry (IHC) tests compared with current prognostic tools in guiding the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer.

Methods: A systematic review of the evidence on clinical effectiveness of OncotypeDX, IHC4, MammaPrint, and Mammostrat, compared with current clinical practice using clinicopathological parameters, in women with early breast cancer was conducted. Ten databases were searched to include citations to May 2016.

The Relationship between Hospital or Surgeon Volume and Outcomes in Lower Limb Vascular Surgery in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Background: Peripheral vascular disease is a major cause of death and disability. The extent to which volume influences outcome of lower limb (LL) vascular surgery remains unclear. This review evaluated the relationship between hospital/surgeon volume and outcome in LL surgery.

Patient-reported outcome measures in patients with peripheral arterial disease: a systematic review of psychometric properties.

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is generally associated with considerable morbidity and reduced quality of life. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) provide important information about the burden of disease and impact of treatment in affected patients.

Objectives: The objective of the review was to identify and appraise studies reporting the psychometric evaluation of PROMs administered to a specified population of patients with PAD with a view to recommending suitable PROMs.

Building the Evidence Base of Blood-Based Biomarkers for Early Detection of Cancer: A Rapid Systematic Mapping Review.

Background: The Early Cancer Detection Consortium is developing a blood-test to screen the general population for early identification of cancer, and has therefore conducted a systematic mapping review to identify blood-based biomarkers that could be used for early identification of cancer.

Methods: A mapping review with a systematic approach was performed to identify biomarkers and establish their state of development. Comprehensive searches of electronic databases Medline, Embase, CINAHL, the Cochrane library and Biosis were conducted in May 2014 to obtain relevant literature on blood-based biomarkers for cancer detection in humans.

Preventing the progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults at high risk: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of lifestyle, pharmacological and surgical interventions.

Aims: Individuals with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) have an increased risk of progression to Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of this review was to quantify the effectiveness of lifestyle, pharmacological and surgical interventions in reducing the progression to Type 2 diabetes mellitus in people with IFG or IGT.

Methods: A systematic review was carried out.

Referral interventions from primary to specialist care: a systematic review of international evidence.

Background: Demand management defines any method used to monitor, direct, or regulate patient referrals. Strategies have been developed to manage the referral of patients to secondary care, with interventions that target primary care, specialist services, or infrastructure.

Aim: To review the international evidence on interventions to manage referral from primary to specialist care.