scholarly journals A systematic review evaluating the clinimetric properties of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment (VISA) questionnaires for lower limb tendinopathy shows moderate to high-quality evidence for sufficient reliability, validity and responsiveness—part II

Author(s):  
Vasileios Korakakis ◽  
Rod Whiteley ◽  
Argyro Kotsifaki ◽  
Manos Stefanakis ◽  
Yiannis Sotiralis ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The evaluation of measurement properties such as reliability, measurement error, construct validity, and responsiveness provides information on the quality of the scale as a whole, rather than on an item level. We aimed to synthesize the measurement properties referring to reliability, measurement error, construct validity, and responsiveness of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment questionnaires (Achilles tendon—VISA-A, greater trochanteric pain syndrome—VISA-G, proximal hamstring tendinopathy—VISA-H, patellar tendon—VISA-P). Methods A systematic review was conducted according to Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments methodology (COSMIN). PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, SportsDiscus, grey literature, and reference lists were searched. Studies assessing the measurement properties concerning reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the VISA questionnaires in patients with lower limb tendinopathies were included. Two reviewers assessed the methodological quality of studies assessing reliability, validity, and responsiveness using the COSMIN guidelines and the evidence for these measurement properties. A modified Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was applied to the evidence synthesis. Results There is moderate-quality evidence for sufficient VISA-A, VISA-G, and VISA-P reliability. There is moderate-quality evidence for sufficient VISA-G and VISA-P measurement error, and high-quality evidence for sufficient construct validity for all the VISA questionnaires. Furthermore, high-quality evidence exists with regard to VISA-A for sufficient responsiveness in patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy following conservative interventions. Conclusions Sufficient reliability, measurement error, construct validity and responsiveness were found for the VISA questionnaires with variable quality of evidence except for VISA-A which displayed insufficient measurement error. Level of evidence IV. Registration details Prospero (CRD42018107671); PROSPERO reference—CRD42019126595.

Author(s):  
Michaela Gabes ◽  
Helge Knüttel ◽  
Gesina Kann ◽  
Christina Tischer ◽  
Christian J. Apfelbacher

Abstract Purpose To critically appraise, compare and summarize the quality of all existing PROMs that have been validated in hyperhidrosis to at least some extend by applying the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methodology. Thereby, we aim to give a recommendation for the use of PROMs in future clinical trials in hyperhidrosis. Methods We considered studies evaluating, describing or comparing measurement properties of PROMs as eligible. A systematic literature search in three big databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science) was performed. We assessed the methodological quality of each included study using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist. Furthermore, we applied predefined quality criteria for good measurement properties and finally, graded the quality of the evidence. Results Twenty-four articles reporting on 13 patient-reported outcome measures were included. Three instruments can be further recommended for use. They showed evidence for sufficient content validity and moderate- to high-quality evidence for sufficient internal consistency. The methodological assessment showed existing evidence gaps for eight other PROMs, which therefore require further validation studies to make an adequate decision on their recommendation. The Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Measure-Axillary (HDSM-Ax) and the short-form health survey with 36 items (SF-36) were the only questionnaires not recommended for use in patients with hyperhidrosis due to moderate- to high-quality evidence for insufficient measurement properties. Conclusion Three PROMs, the Hyperhidrosis Quality of Life Index (HidroQoL), the Hyperhidrosis Questionnaire (HQ) and the Sweating Cognitions Inventory (SCI), can be recommended for use in future clinical trials in hyperhidrosis. Results obtained with these three instruments can be seen as trustworthy. Nevertheless, further validation of all three PROMs is desirable. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020170247


Author(s):  
Yali Liu ◽  
Honglin Jiang ◽  
Xiaotong Li ◽  
Xingyue Yang

Background: Acupuncture therapy has been widely applied all around the world. But there still lacks high-quality evidence to evaluate its clinical effects, safety and cost-effectiveness, which seriously restricts its further promotion and development. Acupuncture, as an operational intervention, is more complex than drug therapy. Factors involved in the acupuncture operation process, such as individual and interventional factors, may affect clinical effects. Purpose:s Through this systematic review, we attempt to analyze the current status of studies about the key factors influencing clinical effects, so as to provide evidence for the design of acupuncture studies. Methods: A literature research was conducted in six databases until May, 2020. Studies were screened and assessed by two authors independently. Data extraction was made after screening. We extracted the basic information of these studies, including publishing years and countries, population and factors influencing clinical effects.Results: Through the initial search in these six database, 6404 records were retrieved. After duplication and screening, a total of 355 studies were finally included in the qualitative analysis. About 88.5% of these studies were conducted in China with increasing number in the past decades, covering neurological disorders, orthopedic disorders, obstetrical and gynecological diseases, digestive diseases and so on; 239 studies focused on stimulus parameters which may influence effects, accounting for 67.3%, and 128, 44, 39, 32, 15, 11 studies discussed acupoints, patients’ pathological states, individual difference, psychological states, deqi, and other factors separately. Conclusion: There are more and more studies focusing on factors influencing acupuncture clinical effects, including stimulus parameters, acupoints, individual difference, patient pathological and psychological states. Based on this systematic review, several ignored factors should be considered for future researches, and more scientifically and objectively high quality evidence should also be proved.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A C Campagnolo Goncalves Toledo ◽  
N Soares De Almeida ◽  
A Pierucci ◽  
A Straioto Salomao ◽  
I Ribeiro Lemes ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Smartphone applications for health (M-Health) seem to overcome barriers to access Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Programs (CRP), because of their high degree of acceptance and also their potential to influence the frequency of physical exercise in weight loss. Objective To analyze the effectiveness of the combination of M-Health and CRP compared to CRP alone on functional capacity, adherence to CRP, management of cardiovascular risk factors in cardiac patients. Design Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Methods The following databases were used Medline via Ovid, EMBASE, Central, PEDro and SPORTDiscus via EBSCOhost from their inception until July/2020. We included randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of M-Health in combination with CRP compared to CRP alone in adults with heart disease, and the interventions with M-Health consisted of text messages, e-mails, and applications. The primary outcome of this review was functional capacity, measured by VO2peak, or self-reported physical activity (METs.min/week). PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies and the GRADE approach to assess the overall quality of evidence. Pooled estimates were calculated using a random effect model to obtain mean difference (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) and their respectives 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Nineteen RCTs were eligible, the median risk of bias was 7 out of 10 points. The primary endpoint was analyzed by subgroups, time of intervention and kind of type CRP, eigthteen of these studies assessed functional capacity. CRP in combination with a m-health intervention was more effective than CRP alone in improving VO2peak, ml/min/kg, (MD: 0.84, CI: 0.30 to 1.38; I2=0%, high quality evidence, 12 trials, n=1889) at short-term follow-up, but at medium-term follow-up (MD: 0.84, CI: −0.26 to 1.41; I2=0%, high quality evidence, 8 trials, n=927,). Similarly, CRP associated with m-health was superior to CRP alone in increasing self-reported at short-term, METs.min/week, (MD:1.31, CI: −0.24 to 2.37; I2 = not aplicable, very low quality evidence, 1 trial, n=18), and at medium-term follow-up (MD: 0.18, CI: −0.01 to 0.36; I2=56%, moderate quality evidence, 4 trials, n=1107). Conclusion High quality of evidence shows that M-Health improves cardiorespiratory fitness at short-term follow-up. In addition, supervised program showed to be more effective than non-supervised. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205435812096583
Author(s):  
Sheung Wing Sherwin Wong ◽  
Grace Zhang ◽  
Patrick Norman ◽  
Hasitha Welihinda ◽  
Don Thiwanka Wijeratne

Background: Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening electrolyte abnormality defined as a serum potassium above the lab reference range (usually >5.0-5.5 mEq/L). Polystyrene resins, including sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) and calcium polystyrene sulfonate (CPS), have long been used to treat hyperkalemia. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate/calcium polystyrene sulfonate act by exchanging a cation for potassium within the intestinal lumen. While SPS and CPS have been available since the 1960s, there are rising concerns about the validity of the data supporting its use and about serious adverse gastrointestinal effects. Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to quantify the efficacy and safety of polystyrene sulfonate resins (SPS/CPS) in the treatment of adults with hyperkalemia. This review focuses on the randomized control trial (RCT), interventional non-RCT, and observational data available on SPS/CPS use. Design: Systematic review. Setting: Any country of origin. Both inpatient and outpatient settings. Patients: Adults with hyperkalemia treated with polystyrene sulfonate resins. Measurements: The primary outcome was change in serum potassium. The secondary outcomes included adverse effects of SPS/CPS and prevention of recurrent hyperkalemia. Methods: We conducted a systematic review using Cochrane Library, EMBASE (1947-2019), and Medline (1946-2019) databases. Literature reviews, systematic reviews, case studies, case series, and editorial pieces were excluded. Included studies were assessed for risk of bias. Results: Four RCTs, 21 observational studies, and 5 quasi-experimental trials were included. A total of 212 351 patients were included. Two thousand and fifty-eight patients were studied for the primary outcome and 210 293 patients were studied for the secondary outcomes. Study designs were heterogeneous and not amenable to meta-analysis. Most studies included nonhemodialysis outpatients older than 65 years. Of the included studies, 22/25 (88%) demonstrated a reduction of serum potassium >0.5 mEq/L over the study period. The magnitude of reduction in serum potassium of potassium resin compared with placebo or matched controls in the 3 low-risk studies identified was 0.14 to 1.04 mEq/L. However, each study used different dosing regimens. Ten of 22 studies reported the effects of polystyrene resins on serum potassium within 24 hours. A few high-quality observational studies suggest an increased risk of serious adverse gastrointestinal events with a relative risk of 2.10 and a hazard ratio of 1.25 to 1.94; however, the absolute risk remains low. The incidence of adverse gastrointestinal events is 16 to 23 events per 1000 person-years. Limitations: We acknowledge several limitations in this study. Case studies and case series were excluded from the search results. Large case series may have been excluded despite having comparable sample sizes to studies included due to lack of a comparator and calculated estimates. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, the data were unable to be meta-analyzed and as such the potassium-lowering effect of polystyrene sulfonate resins remains founded on small studies with potential confounders. Conclusions: This systematic review demonstrates a continued lack of high-quality evidence for the use of SPS/CPS in hyperkalemia. Studies investigated highly variable timelines and the most robust evidence for SPS/CPS use is in chronic hyperkalemia. While the absence of high-quality evidence does not exclude the possibility of benefit, prescribers must understand that the use of SPS/CPS in acute hyperkalemia is not supported by high-quality evidence. Trial registration: The protocol for this systematic review was not registered.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 708-720
Author(s):  
Steve Van Den Bulck ◽  
David Spitaels ◽  
Bert Vaes ◽  
Geert Goderis ◽  
Rosella Hermens ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The aim of this systematic review was (i) to assess whether electronic audit and feedback (A&F) is effective in primary care and (ii) to evaluate important features concerning content and delivery of the feedback in primary care, including the use of benchmarks, the frequency of feedback, the cognitive load of feedback and the evidence-based aspects of the feedback. Data sources The MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and CENTRAL databases were searched for articles published since 2010 by replicating the search strategy used in the last Cochrane review on A&F. Study selection Two independent reviewers assessed the records for their eligibility, performed the data extraction and evaluated the risk of bias. Our search resulted in 8744 records, including the 140 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the last Cochrane Review. The full texts of 431 articles were assessed to determine their eligibility. Finally, 29 articles were included. Data extraction Two independent reviewers extracted standard data, data on the effectiveness and outcomes of the interventions, data on the kind of electronic feedback (static versus interactive) and data on the aforementioned feedback features. Results of data synthesis Twenty-two studies (76%) showed that electronic A&F was effective. All interventions targeting medication safety, preventive medicine, cholesterol management and depression showed an effect. Approximately 70% of the included studies used benchmarks and high-quality evidence in the content of the feedback. In almost half of the studies, the cognitive load of feedback was not reported. Due to high heterogeneity in the results, no meta-analysis was performed. Conclusion This systematic review included 29 articles examining electronic A&F interventions in primary care, and 76% of the interventions were effective. Our findings suggest electronic A&F is effective in primary care for different conditions such as medication safety and preventive medicine. Some of the benefits of electronic A&F include its scalability and the potential to be cost effective. The use of benchmarks as comparators and feedback based on high-quality evidence are widely used and important features of electronic feedback in primary care. However, other important features such as the cognitive load of feedback and the frequency of feedback provision are poorly described in the design of many electronic A&F intervention, indicating that a better description or implementation of these features is needed. Developing a framework or methodology for automated A&F interventions in primary care could be useful for future research.


2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 553-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan Saithna ◽  
Rajiv Gogna ◽  
Njalalle Baraza ◽  
Chetan Modi ◽  
Simon Spencer

The 2007 review by Visnes and Bahr concluded that athletes with patella tendinopathy should be withdrawn from sport whilst engaging in eccentric exercise (EE) rehabilitation programs. However, deprivation of sport is associated with a number of negative psychological and physiological effects. Withdrawal from sport is therefore a decision that warrants due consideration of the risk/benefit ratio. The aim of this study was to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant withdrawal of athletes from sport during an eccentric exercise rehabilitation program. A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify relevant randomised trials. Data was extracted to determine whether athletes were withdrawn from sport, what evidence was presented to support the chosen strategy and whether this affected the clinical outcome. Seven studies were included. None of these reported high quality evidence to support withdrawal. In addition, three studies were identified in which athletes were not withdrawn from sport and still benefited from EE. This review has demonstrated that there is no high quality evidence to support a strategy of withdrawal from sport in the management of patella tendinopathy.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvina Asif Jiwani ◽  
Jaycie Dalson ◽  
Ami Baba ◽  
Emma Stallwood ◽  
Karolin Rose Krause ◽  
...  

The objectives of this review are to determine if the ADRS and the QIDS have sufficient measurement properties according to the COSMIN guidelines, to evaluate the quality of this evidence, and to determine whether these OMIs meet at least minimum COSMIN criteria to support their use in youth with MDD and consideration for inclusion in a COS for this population (i.e., sufficient content validity (any level) AND at least low quality evidence for sufficient internal consistency).


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000195
Author(s):  
Mamoona Javed ◽  
Muhammad Haider Ali

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the burden of disease associated with lower limb spasticity (LLS) and its complications in adults. Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE identified 9 studies published between November 2012 and July 2019 that assessed the epidemiological burden associated with LLS. Results: LLS was found to occur in one-third of adults after neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), one quarter to one third with multiple sclerosis, one quarter to half with Parkinson’s disease and roughly half with stroke. LLS reduces mobility and diminishes the quality of life. LLS complications, especially injuries following falls are a common occurrence. Conclusion: Given the high prevalence among adults with common disorders, such as stroke; the evidence on the burden of LLS is somewhat finite. Further research is needed to explore the trends over time and across different geographical regions in the incidence and prevalence of LLS. The dearth of high-quality evidence for LLS suggests a lack of awareness of the problem and interest in it, and hence, the unmet need among patients and their carers.


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