Off-label drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: topic modelling and sentiment analysis of ivermectin in South Africa and Nigeria as a case study

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 20(206)

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Although rejected by the World Health Organization, human and even veterinary formulation of ivermectin has widely been used for prevention treatment COVID-19. In this work we leverage Twitter to understand reasons drug use from supporters, their source information, emotions, gender demographics, location in Nigeria South Africa. Topic modelling is performed on a dataset gathered using keywords ‘ivermectin’ ‘ivm’. A model fine-tuned RoBERTa find stance tweets. Statistical analysis compare emotions. Most supporters either redistribute conspiracy theories posted influencers, or refer flawed studies confirming efficacy vitro . Three emotions have highest intensity, optimism, joy disgust. The number anti-ivermectin tweets significant positive correlation with vaccination rate. All provinces Africa most are pro-ivermectin higher disgust polarity. This makes effort public discussions regarding during COVID-19 pandemic help policy-makers rationale behind its popularity, inform more targeted policies discourage self-administration ivermectin. Moreover, it lesson future outbreaks.

Language: Английский

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Efficacy and safety of ivermectin for treatment of non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials with 7,035 participants

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 64(2), P. 107248 - 107248

Published: June 20, 2024

Language: Английский

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Misleading Meta-Analyses during COVID-19 Pandemic: Examples of Methodological Biases in Evidence Synthesis

Journal of Clinical Medicine, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 11(14), P. 4084 - 4084

Published: July 14, 2022

Not all evidence is equal. Evidence-based public health and medicine emanate from the principle that there a hierarchy of evidence, with systematic reviews meta-analyses (SRMAs) being at top, as highest level evidence. Despite this, it common in literature to find SRMAs methodological issues can distort results thus have serious or clinical implications. During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, importance way which was produced stress tested revealed wide array biases might led misleading conclusions recommendations. We provide critical examination selected on COVID-19, been widely used guide justify some pharmaceutical nonpharmaceutical interventions high significance, such mask wearing, asymptomatic transmission, ivermectin. Through these examples, we highlight need address related quality relevance study designs effect size computations considerations for appraisal available data synthesis process better Such help researchers decision makers avoid conclusions, while encouraging provision best policy recommendations individual health.

Language: Английский

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Exploring decision-makers’ challenges and strategies when selecting multiple systematic reviews: insights for AI decision support tools in healthcare

BMJ Open, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(7), P. e084124 - e084124

Published: July 1, 2024

Background Systematic reviews (SRs) are being published at an accelerated rate. Decision-makers may struggle with comparing and choosing between multiple SRs on the same topic. We aimed to understand how healthcare decision-makers (eg, practitioners, policymakers, researchers) use inform decision-making explore potential role of a proposed artificial intelligence (AI) tool assist in critical appraisal among SRs. Methods developed survey 21 open closed questions. followed knowledge translation plan disseminate through social media professional networks. Results Our response rate was lower than expected (7.9% distributed emails). Of 684 respondents, 58.2% identified as researchers, 37.1% 19.2% students 13.5% policymakers. Respondents frequently sought out (97.1%) source evidence decision-making. They (97.9%) found more one SR given topic interest them. Just over half (50.8%) struggled choose most trustworthy multiple. These difficulties related lack time (55.2%), or due varying methodological quality (54.2%), differences results conclusions (49.7%) variation included studies (44.6%). compared based relevance their question interest, quality, recency search. Most respondents (87.0%) were interested AI help appraise compare Conclusions Given barriers using evidence, facilitate comparison SRs, search could users efficiently make decisions.

Language: Английский

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Decision makers find it difficult to compare and select similar systematic reviews based on quality, methods and results: a cross-sectional survey

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 10, 2023

Abstract Background Systematic reviews (SRs) are being published at an accelerated rate. Decision makers often faced with the challenge of comparing and choosing between multiple SRs on same topic. We surveyed individuals in healthcare field to understand what criteria they use compare select one or more from Methods developed a survey 21 open closed questions. disseminated it through social media professional networks. Results Of 684 respondents, 25% were health practitioners, 9% policymakers, 39% researchers, 13% students. Policymakers, practitioners researchers frequently sought out (98.1%) as source evidence inform decision making. They (97.7%) found than SR given topic interest them. Half (50%) struggled choose most valid trustworthy amongst multiple. These difficulties related lack time (55.2%), insufficient skills/ experience quality appraisal (27.7%), difficulty different (54.3%). Respondents compared based on: relevance their question interest; its methodological quality, recency search date. Conclusions The exponential growth number leads duplication research similar questions compounds problem identifying which is highest for makers. Failure critically appraise means that practice policy decisions may not reflect best evidence, implementation better intervention strategies delayed, patients unduly suffer.

Language: Английский

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Can artificial intelligence help decision makers navigate the growing body of systematic review evidence? A cross-sectional survey

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 10, 2024

Abstract Background Systematic reviews (SRs) are being published at an accelerated rate. Decision makers may struggle with comparing and choosing between multiple SRs on the same topic. We aimed to understand how healthcare decision (e.g., practitioners, policymakers, researchers) use inform making, explore role of a proposed AI tool assist in critical appraisal amongst SRs. Methods developed survey 21 open closed questions. followed knowledge translation plan disseminate through social media professional networks. Results Of 684 respondents, 58.2% identified as researchers, 37.1% 19.2% students, 13.5% policymakers. Respondents frequently sought out (97.1%) source evidence making. They (97.9%) found more than one SR given topic interest them. Just over half (50.8%) struggled choose most trustworthy multiple. These difficulties related lack time (55.2%), or due varying methodological quality (54.2%), differences results conclusions (49.7%), variation included studies (44.6%). compared based relevance their question interest, quality, recency search. Most respondents (87.0%) were interested help appraise compare Conclusions often encountered interest. Many multiple, difficulty quality. An facilitate comparison SRs, search, would users efficiently make decisions.

Language: Английский

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Dietary Supplements – The Wild West of Good, Bad, and a Whole Lotta Ugly

Medical Clinics of North America, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 106(5), P. 881 - 898

Published: Sept. 1, 2022

Language: Английский

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Trends in estimated total retail dispensed prescriptions of purported COVID-19 treatments and preventions in Canada

Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(2), P. 99 - 102

Published: April 15, 2023

Abstract Objectives Several medications were proposed for the treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19 but with limited supporting evidence. Herein, we assessed trends in volume projected total retail dispensed prescriptions 12 agents prevention before after March 2020 Canada. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using monthly prescription volumes obtained from IQVIA’s CompuScript database. used joinpoint regression to identify significant inflection points calculate percent change (MPC). Key findings Dispensations peaked several medications, including hydroxychloroquine, fluvoxamine, ivermectin, colchicine, tocilizumab, sarilumab famotidine. Although most peaks short lived, large increases observed ivermectin (MPC September January 2021 = 28%) famotidine June October 14%). Conclusions Overall, Canadian prescribing patterns mostly consistent recommendations guidelines health regulatory bodies. Nonetheless, active monitoring should continue.

Language: Английский

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Ethical research in public policy

Policy Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 139 - 150

Published: July 29, 2022

Nchafack Almighty is a communication specialist and multidisciplinary public health PhD candidate on the Scaling-up Packages of Interventions for Cardiovascular disease prevention in selected sites Europe sub-Saharan Africa (SPICES) project at Nottingham Trent University, UK.Her doctoral research explores understandings heart within various communities their influence knowledge translation cardiovascular prevention.She has experience corporate communication, community mobilisation, social marketing strategies family planning methods, post-abortion care integrated case management child killer diseases Cameroon engagement UK.

Language: Английский

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Ethical research in public policy

Policy Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 139 - 150

Published: July 29, 2022

Nchafack Almighty is a communication specialist and multidisciplinary public health PhD candidate on the Scaling-up Packages of Interventions for Cardiovascular disease prevention in selected sites Europe sub-Saharan Africa (SPICES) project at Nottingham Trent University, UK.Her doctoral research explores understandings heart within various communities their influence knowledge translation cardiovascular prevention.She has experience corporate communication, community mobilisation, social marketing strategies family planning methods, post-abortion care integrated case management child killer diseases Cameroon engagement UK.

Language: Английский

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