Meditation: Evidence Map of Systematic Reviews.

Study Basis: This evidence map presents a summary of studies that addressed the effects of meditation on various clinical and health conditions. Meditation is a contemplative practice that has been used for the promotion of health, and the treatment of different conditions. Method: The study is based on the search of four electronic databases for the period 1994-November 2019 and includes systematic reviews, meta-analyses, meta-syntheses, and integrative reviews. 3iE evidence gap map was the methodology of choice, and AMSTAR 2 was used for the analyses. Tableau was used to graphically display the confidence level, number of reviews, health outcomes, and intervention effects. Results: This map encompasses 191 studies, with Mindfulness being the key word that retrieved the highest number of results. Several meditation techniques were evaluated in different contexts, and the confidence levels of 22 studies were high, 84 were moderate, and 82 were low. Two 2 meta-syntheses and 1 integrative review were also included. Most of the studies reported positive effects and a beneficial potential of the practice of meditation. Health outcomes were divided into five groups out of which mental health and vitality, and well-being and quality of life stood out with the largest number of studies. Conclusions: Meditation has been applied in different areas. This Evidence Map intends to be an easy visual tool to access valuable evidence-based information on this complementary therapy for patients, health professionals, and managers.

Mind-Body Therapies From Traditional Chinese Medicine: Evidence Map.

Background: The mind-body therapies of traditional Chinese medicine include several intervention types and combine physical poses with conscious relaxation and breathing techniques. The purpose of this Evidence Map is to describe these different interventions and report related health outcomes. Methods: This evidence map is based on the 3iE Evidence Gap Map methodology. We searched seven electronic databases (BVS, PUBMED, EMBASE, PEDro, ScienceDirect, Web of Sciences, and PschyInfo) from inception to November 2019 and included systematic reviews only. Systematic reviews were analyzed based on AMSTAR 2. We used Tableau to graphically display quality assessment, the number of reviews, outcomes, and effects. Results: The map is based on 116 systematic reviews and 44 meta-analyses. Most of the reviews were published in the last 5 years. The most researched interventions were Tai Chi and Qi Gong. The reviews presented the following quality assessment: 80 high, 43 moderate, 23 low, and 14 critically low. Every 680 distinct outcome effect was classified: 421 as potential positive; 237 as positive; 21 as inconclusive/mixed; one potential negative and none no effect. Positive effects were related to chronic diseases; mental indicators and disorders; vitality, well-being, and quality of life. Potential positive effects were related to balance, mobility, Parkinson's disease, hypertension, joint pain, cognitive performance, and sleep quality. Inconclusive/mixed-effects justify further research, especially in the following areas: Acupressure as Shiatsu and Tuiná for nausea and vomiting; Tai Chi and Qi Gong for acute diseases, prevention of stroke, stroke risk factors, and schizophrenia. Conclusions: The mind-body therapies from traditional Chinese medicine have been applied in different areas and this Evidence Map provides a visualization of valuable information for patients, professionals, and policymakers, to promote evidence-based complementary therapies.

Occupational health, integrative and complementary practices in primary care, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the possible repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workers' health, the care strategies used, and the provision of Integrative and Complementary Practices in health services in the context of COVID-19. METHOD: Descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, which used a focus group for data collection and content analysis according to Bardin. RESULTS: Eleven health professionals from the city of Registro (SP) participated and, based on the information analysis, four categories emerged: (1) Changes in work routine caused by the pandemic and the feelings they generate in health professionals; (2) Integrative and Complementary Practices as a self-care strategy in the pandemic; (3) Provision of Integrative and Complementary Practices during the pandemic; and (4) Occupational health as the focus and strategy motivator to resume the provision of Integrative and Complementary Practices in the municipality. CONCLUSION: This study allowed the identification of the impact of the pandemic, especially on workers' mental health, which influenced the search for care strategies that included the Integrative and Complementary Practices. Professionals with this training began to offer the Integrative and Complementary Practices in the service to other workers, given the interruption of their provision to the population due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine evidence map: a methodology to an overflowing field of data and noise.

Every day there is criticism about lack of evidence on traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM). But is this narrative evidence-based? Are we really missing research about TCIM? Or are we just not looking correctly at the evidence? Evidence maps are a useful method with the dual function of synthesizing available evidence on a specific topic and identifying knowledge gaps. This article presents a six-step evidence map methodology along with recently published TCIM evidence maps, including one related to COVID-19. TCIM evidence maps are useful instruments to inform decision-making for policymakers, health practitioners, and patients.

Es habitual que se critique la falta de evidencia con respecto a las medicinas tradicionales, complementarias e integrativas. Sin embargo, ¿se basa en la evidencia este discurso? ¿Falta realmente investigación sobre las medicinas tradicionales, complementarias e integrativas o es que simplemente no estamos analizando la evidencia de forma adecuada? Los mapas de evidencia son un método útil que tiene una función doble: sintetizar la evidencia disponible por temas específicos y determinar si hay alguna laguna en el conocimiento. En este artículo se presenta una metodología de elaboración de mapas de la evidencia en seis pasos, junto con los mapas de la evidencia de las medicinas tradicionales, complementarias e integrativas publicados recientemente, incluido un mapa sobre la COVID-19. Los mapas de la evidencia de las medicinas tradicionales, complementarias e integrativas son instrumentos útiles para fundamentar la toma de decisiones por parte de los encargados de las políticas, el personal de salud y los pacientes.

A crítica é diária de que faltam evidências em medicinas tradicionais, complementares e integrativas (MTCI). Mas será que esta narrativa se baseia em evidências? Realmente faltam pesquisas em MTCI? Ou será que simplesmente não estamos atentando corretamente às evidências? Os mapas de evidências consistem em uma metodologia útil de dupla função: sintetizar as evidências existentes em um determinado tópico e identificar as lacunas de conhecimento. Neste artigo é apresentada uma metodologia de mapa de evidências de seis passos junto com mapas de evidências de MTCI recém-publicados, incluindo um relacionado à COVID-19. Os mapas de evidências de MTCI são instrumentos úteis para subsidiar a tomada de decisão dos responsáveis por políticas, profissionais da saúde e pacientes.

Evidence map on the contributions of traditional, complementary and integrative medicines for health care in times of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Due to the pandemic, there is a significant interest in the therapeutic resources linked to TCIM to support potentially therapeutic research and intervention in the management of Coronavirus - 19 (COVID-19). At the date of this evidence map´s publication, there is no evidence of specific treatments for COVID-19. This map organizes information about symptoms management (especially on dimensions related to mental health and mild viral respiratory infections, as well as immune system strengthening and antiviral activity). METHOD: This evidence map applies methodology developed by Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information based on the 3iE evidence gap map. A search was performed in the Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Virtual Health Library and PubMed, using the MeSH and DeCS terms for respiratory viral diseases associated with epidemics, COVID-19 symptoms, relevant mental health topics, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions related to TCIM. RESULTS: For the map, 126 systematic reviews and controlled clinical studies were characterized, distributed in a matrix with 62 interventions (18 phytotherapy, 9 mind-body therapies, 11 traditional Chinese medicine, 7 homeopathic and anthroposophic dynamized medicines and 17 supplements), and 67 outcomes (14 immunological response, 23 mental health, 25 complementary clinical management of the infection and 5 other). CONCLUSION: The map presents an overview of possible TCIM contributions to various dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the field of mental health, and it is directed to researchers and health professionals specialized in TCIM. Most of the antiviral activity outcomes described in this map refers to respiratory viruses in general, and not specifically to SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2). This information may be useful to guide new research, but not necessarily to support a therapeutic recommendation. Finally, any suspicion of COVID-19 infection should follow the protocols recommended by the health authorities of each country/region.

Adults at high-risk of severe coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the proportion and total number of the general adult population who may be at higher risk of severe Covid-19 in Brazil. METHODS We included 51,770 participants from a nationally representative, household-based health survey (PNS) conducted in Brazil. We estimated the proportion and number of adults (≥ 18 years) at risk of severe Covid-19 by sex, educational level, race/ethnicity, and state based on the presence of one or more of the following risk factors: age ≥ 65 years or medical diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, chronic respiratory disease, cancer, stroke, chronic kidney disease and moderate to severe asthma, smoking status, and obesity. RESULTS Adults at risk of severe Covid-19 in Brazil varied from 34.0% (53 million) to 54.5% (86 million) nationwide. Less-educated adults present a 2-fold higher prevalence of risk factors compared to university graduated. We found no differences by sex and race/ethnicity. São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Rio Grande do Sul were the most vulnerable states in absolute and relative terms of adults at risk. CONCLUSIONS Proportion and total number of adults at risk of severe Covid-19 are high in Brazil, with wide variation across states and adult subgroups. These findings should be considered while designing and implementing prevention measures in Brazil. We argue that these results support broad social isolation measures, particularly when testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 is limited.