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- Aboagye, Emmanuel, et al.
(författare)
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Investigating the association between publication performance and the work environment of university research academics : a systematic review
- 2021
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Ingår i: Scientometrics. - : Springer. - 0138-9130 .- 1588-2861. ; 126:4, s. 3283-3301
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this review was to investigate the association between publication performance and the organizational and psychosocial work environment of academics in a university setting. In 2018 we conducted database searches in Web of Science, Medline and other key journals (hand-searched) from 1990 to 2017 based on population, exposure and outcome framework. We examined reference lists, and after a title and abstract scan and full-text reading we identified studies that were original research and fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Articles were evaluated as having a low, moderate or high risk of bias using a quality assessment form. From the studies (n = 32) identified and synthesized, work-environment characteristics could explain the quality and quantity aspects of publication performance of academics. Management practices, leadership and psychosocial characteristics are influential factors that affect academics’ publication productivity. Most of the reviewed studies were judged to be of moderate quality because of issues of bias, related to the measuring of publication outcome. The findings in the studies reviewed suggest that highly productive research academics and departments significantly tend to be influenced by the organizational and psychosocial characteristics of their working environment. The practical relevance of this review is that it highlights where academics’ performance needs support and how the work environment can be improved to bolster publication productivity.
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| 3. |
- Pico-Espinosa, Oscar Javier, et al.
(författare)
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Deep tissue massage, strengthening and stretching exercises, and a combination of both compared with advice to stay active for subacute or persistent non-specific neck pain : A cost-effectiveness analysis of the Stockholm Neck trial (STONE)
- 2020
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Ingår i: Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. - : Elsevier. - 2468-7812. ; 46
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of deep tissue massage (‘massage’), strengthening and stretching exercises (‘exercises’) or a combination of both (‘combined therapy’) in comparison with advice to stay active (‘advice’) for subacute and persistent neck pain, from a societal perspective.Methods We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a four-arm randomized controlled trial of 619 participants followed-up for one year. Health-related quality of life was measured using EQ-5D-3L and costs were calculated from baseline to one year. The interventions were ranked according to quality adjusted life years (QALYs) in a cost-consequence analysis. Thereafter, an incremental cost per QALY was calculated.Results In the cost-consequence analysis, in comparison with advice, exercises resulted in higher QALY gains, and massage and the combined therapy were more costly and less beneficial. Exercises may be a cost-effective treatment compared with advice to stay active if society is willing to pay 17 640 EUR per QALY. However, differences in QALY gains were minimal; on average, participants in the massage group, spent a year in a state of health valued at 0.88, exercises: 0.89, combined therapy: 0.88 and, advice: 0.88.Conclusions Exercises are cost-effective compared to advice given that the societal willingness to pay is above 17 640 EUR per year in full health gained. Massage and a combined therapy are not cost-effective. While exercise appeared to have the best cost/benefit profile, even this treatment had only a modest benefit and treatment innovation is needed. Advice to stay active remains as a good therapeutic alternative from an economical perspective.
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| 4. |
- Pico Espinosa, Oscar Javier
(författare)
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Deep tissue massage therapy and/or strengthening and stretching exercises for disabling subacute or chronic neck pain : a randomized controlled trial
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Neck pain is a common condition responsible for a significant amount of disability worldwide. Various treatment modalities are used to manage neck pain, but evidence supporting their use is scarce, conflicting or of low quality. Objectives: The aim of this thesis is to present the results of the Stockholm Neck (STONE) trial, a fourarm randomized controlled trial of 619 participants with disabling subacute or chronic neck pain who were followed up to one year. The objectives of the STONE trial were to determine the effectiveness, safety profile and cost-effectiveness of deep tissue massage, strengthening and stretching exercises and a combined therapy including both components, in comparison to advice to stay active. Moreover, additional information was collected with the objective of describing the course of the condition over time. Methods: In Study I, different trajectories of the course of neck pain as well as baseline variables associated with unfavorable trajectories were identified. Study II was an analysis aiming to determine the effect of deep tissue massage, strengthening and stretching exercises and a combined therapy including both components, using advice to stay active as a reference group. Two primary outcomes: pain intensity and pain-related disability, and two secondary outcomes: self-perceived recovery and sickness absence, were measured at 7, 12, 26 and 52 weeks. In Study III, participants were asked to report and describe adverse events debuting after the sessions of therapy. That information was contrasted against the proportion of participants in each group achieving perceived recovery at seven weeks, in order to calculate measures of harm in relation to benefits. In Study IV, costs resulting from neck pain were estimated, including those directly and indirectly related to the interventions given in the STONE trial. The costs associated with gains in health-related quality of life due to the given interventions were calculated. Results: In Study I, six different trajectories were identified, and a quarter of participants had unfavorable courses of neck pain characterized by high pain intensity, either constant or fluctuating. High pain intensity at baseline, being a woman and having depressive symptoms at baseline were among the factors associated with such unfavorable courses. In Study II, compared to advice, massage alone or in combination with exercise resulted in less minimal clinically important improvement (MCII) in pain intensity in the short term, and exercise alone resulted in less MCII in pain intensity in the mid-term. Massage and/or exercise resulted in similar MCII in pain intensity compared to advice in the long term. Moreover, no differences were observed between treatment arms for MCII in pain-related disability or sickness absence after one year. On the other hand, compared to advice, all the other therapies resulted in better self-perceived recovery. In Study III, it was found that around a third of participants reported adverse events that were classified as highly bothersome. The most common adverse events were tiredness, muscle soreness, increased pain and stiffness. None of the adverse events were serious. No clear differences between treatment arms were observed in terms of harms in relation to benefits. In Study IV, massage alone or combined with exercise were found to be more costly and resulting in less gains of quality of life than advice. Exercise, on the other hand, was found to be cost-effective compared to advice to stay active. Discussion and conclusions: Non-specific neck pain is a subjective, individual and complex experience. Therefore, evaluations of interventions should consider the interplay of various biological and psychosocial factors. Compared to advice, massage and exercise therapy are associated with modest effects in terms of minimal clinically important improvement in pain intensity and no effects in minimal clinically important improvement in pain-related disability. However, improvements in other dimensions of pain – that were probably captured by the outcome “perceived recovery” – result from the mentioned interventions. Furthermore, the therapies are safe, and exercise seems to be cost-effective compared to advice. The STONE trial used a rigorous procedure to ensure a proper randomization and allocation concealment. Despite blinding participants not being possible, well-defined criteria to assess the outcomes were followed. In addition, significant efforts were made to provide the therapies according to pre-established protocols and to achieve high response rates. Appropriate methods for the analysis of the data were followed. All these elements combined ensure the internal validity of the trial. The STONE trial is a predominantly pragmatic trial, while aspects such as intensive measurement and the use of a single center for the provision of the therapies correspond more to an explanatory trial, a good balance between rigorousness and pragmatism was achieved. This balance allows the results from this trial to be generalized to populations with subacute and persistent non-specific neck pain.
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| 5. |
- Skillgate, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Healthy lifestyle behavior and risk of long duration troublesome neck pain or low back pain among men and women : results from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort
- 2017
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Ingår i: Clinical Epidemiology. - 1179-1349. ; 9, s. 491-500
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The role of healthy lifestyle behavior (HLB) in terms of physical activity, alcohol intake, smoking, and diet put together has not yet been explored for the risk of low back pain (LBP) and neck pain (NP). Our aim was to study if an HLB is protective against the onset of long duration troublesome LBP and NP in men and women.Methods: Two cohorts from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort, free from LBP (n=12,483) and NP (n=10,539), respectively, in 2006, were surveyed with questionnaires. Baseline information about physical activity, alcohol intake, diet, and smoking were dichotomized into being healthy/not healthy and combined in a categorical variable according to the number of healthy behaviors present. Binomial regression analyses were used to evaluate the role of HLB for the outcomes 4 years later.Results: When men with three or four healthy lifestyles were compared to men with none or one, the risk ratio (RR) of LBP was 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-1.02). The corresponding RR for LBP in women was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.56-1.32). When men with three or four healthy lifestyles were compared to men with none or one, the RR for NP was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.74-1.71). The corresponding RR for NP in women was 0.52 (95% CI: 0.35-0.77).Conclusion: An HLB seems to be protective for long duration troublesome LBP in men, and for long duration troublesome NP in women.
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