Essex, Ryan ORCID: 0000-0003-3497-3137 , Weldon, Sharon Marie ORCID: 0000-0001-5487-5265 , Thompson, Trevor ORCID: 0000-0001-9880-782X , Kalocsanyiova, Erika ORCID: 0000-0002-3535-1084 , Mccrone, Paul ORCID: 0000-0001-7001-4502 and Deb, Sanjoy (2021) Impact of healthcare strikes on patient mortality: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. BMJ Open, 11 (12):e050826. ISSN 2044-6055 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050826)

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Abstract

Introduction: A strike is a collective, temporary and calculated action, which involves a temporary stoppage of work. For healthcare professionals strike action poses a unique dilemma. Perhaps most fundamentally, as strike action is designed to be disruptive it has the potential to impact the delivery of care and place patient well-being in jeopardy. The objective of this study is therefore to evaluate the impact of healthcare strike action on patient mortality outcomes globally using meta-analysis in order to provide a comprehensive evidence base that can advise healthcare professionals, governments and regulatory bodies on the impact that strike action has on patients.
Methods and analysis: A comprehensive literature search of major electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, BIOETHICSLINE, EconLit, WEB OF SCIENCE, OPEN GREY and SIGMA REPOSITORY) will be undertaken to identify observational studies of strike action among healthcare professionals where in-hospital/clinic and population/ community mortality is examined, prestrike, during and
poststrike. Meta-analysis will be performed to estimate in-hospital/clinic and population/community mortality during periods of strike action. The quality of evidence will be assessed using the National Institute of Health quality assessment tool for observational cohort and crosssectional studies. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk Of Bias In Non-Randomized Studies - of Interventions tool.
Ethics and dissemination: This study does not require ethical approval. Findings will be submitted to an appropriate peer-reviewed journal.
Trial registration number: CRD42021238879.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	strike, health, healthcare, protest, meta analysis, systematic review
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD61 Risk Management H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare R Medicine > RT Nursing
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Professional Workforce Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Health Sciences (HEA)
Related URLs:	Publisher
Last Modified:	07 Jan 2022 11:46
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/34698

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