The effect of biofeedback on smoking cessation—a systematic short review

Summary Purpose The aim of this systematic review was to focus on the effect of biofeedback on smoking cessation. Material and methods This review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Peer-reviewed original articles including biofeedback and/or neurofeedback training as an intervention for smoking cessation were included. The PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were screened for trials published up to July 2021. The effects on smoking rates and smoking behavior, and biofeedback/neurofeedback training measures are summarized here. Results In total, three articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The total Downs and Black checklist scores ranged from 11 to 23 points, showing that the articles were of poor to good methodological quality. The included studies were heterogeneous, both in terms of treatment protocols and in terms of outcome parameters. Pooling of data for a meta-analysis was not possible. Therefore, we were limited to describing the included studies. The included biofeedback study demonstrated that skin temperature training might improve the patients’ ability to raise their skin temperature aiming at stress alleviation. All three studies reported positive effects of biofeedback/neurofeedback in supporting smokers to quit. Furthermore, individualized electroencephalography neurofeedback training showed promising results in one study in modulating craving-related responses. Conclusion The results of the present review suggest that biofeedback/neurofeedback training might facilitate smoking cessation by changing behavioral outcomes. Although the investigated studies contained heterogeneous methodologies, they showed interesting approaches that could be further investigated and elaborated. To improve the scientific evidence, prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate biofeedback/neurofeedback in clinical settings for smoking cessation.

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The effects of clinical decision support system for prescribing medication on patient outcomes and physician practice performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making ◽

10.1186/s12911-020-01376-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sharare Taheri Moghadam ◽

Farahnaz Sadoughi ◽

Farnia Velayati ◽

Seyed Jafar Ehsanzadeh ◽

Shayan Poursharif

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Decision Support ◽

Patient Outcomes ◽

Clinical Decision Support ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Physician Practice ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Practice Performance

Abstract Background Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) for Prescribing are one of the innovations designed to improve physician practice performance and patient outcomes by reducing prescription errors. This study was therefore conducted to examine the effects of various CDSSs on physician practice performance and patient outcomes. Methods This systematic review was carried out by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from 2005 to 2019. The studies were independently reviewed by two researchers. Any discrepancies in the eligibility of the studies between the two researchers were then resolved by consulting the third researcher. In the next step, we performed a meta-analysis based on medication subgroups, CDSS-type subgroups, and outcome categories. Also, we provided the narrative style of the findings. In the meantime, we used a random-effects model to estimate the effects of CDSS on patient outcomes and physician practice performance with a 95% confidence interval. Q statistics and I2 were then used to calculate heterogeneity. Results On the basis of the inclusion criteria, 45 studies were qualified for analysis in this study. CDSS for prescription drugs/COPE has been used for various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases, AIDS, appendicitis, kidney disease, malaria, high blood potassium, and mental diseases. In the meantime, other cases such as concurrent prescribing of multiple medications for patients and their effects on the above-mentioned results have been analyzed. The study shows that in some cases the use of CDSS has beneficial effects on patient outcomes and physician practice performance (std diff in means = 0.084, 95% CI 0.067 to 0.102). It was also statistically significant for outcome categories such as those demonstrating better results for physician practice performance and patient outcomes or both. However, there was no significant difference between some other cases and traditional approaches. We assume that this may be due to the disease type, the quantity, and the type of CDSS criteria that affected the comparison. Overall, the results of this study show positive effects on performance for all forms of CDSSs. Conclusions Our results indicate that the positive effects of the CDSS can be due to factors such as user-friendliness, compliance with clinical guidelines, patient and physician cooperation, integration of electronic health records, CDSS, and pharmaceutical systems, consideration of the views of physicians in assessing the importance of CDSS alerts, and the real-time alerts in the prescription.

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Efficacy and safety of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor agents for the treatment of oesophageal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046352 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. e046352

Author(s):

Lijuan Zhang ◽

Yanli Song ◽

Nan Jiang ◽

Yaqi Huang ◽

Bo Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Oesophageal Cancer ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Growth Factor Receptor ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Positive Effects

ObjectivesDespite remarkable advances in the treatment of oesophageal cancer (OC), the role of antiepidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) agents in treating OC remains controversial. Herein, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to elucidate the efficacy and safety of anti-EGFR agents in patients with OC.DesignMeta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) identified by searching the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform databases from inception to December 2019. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.SettingRCTs from any country and healthcare setting.ParticipantsPatients with OC.InterventionsCombination therapy with anti-EGFR agents and conventional treatments versus conventional treatments alone in patients with OC.Primary and secondary outcome measuresOverall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were primary outcome measures, and objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and treatment toxicities were secondary outcome measures.ResultsIn total, 25 RCTs comprising 3406 patients with OC were included. Overall, anti-EGFR treatment significantly improved the OS (HR: 0.81, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.89, p<0.00001), ORR (relative risk (RR): 1.33, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.52, p<0.0001) and DCR (RR: 1.22, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.34, p<0.0001) but not PFS (HR: 0.91, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.08, p=0.26). Anti-EGFR treatment was significantly associated with higher incidences of myelosuppression, diarrhoea, acne-like rash and hypomagnesaemia.ConclusionsOverall, anti-EGFR agents have positive effects on OS, the ORR and DCR in OC. However, considering the high incidence of adverse effects, such as myelosuppression, diarrhoea, acne-like rashes and hypomagnesaemia, careful monitoring of patients with OC is recommended during anti-EGFR treatment.Trial registration numberCRD42020169230.

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Meta-Analysis on Cognitive Benefit of Exercise after Stroke

Complexity ◽

10.1155/2021/5569346 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Bo Yang ◽

Shuming Wang

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Combined Therapy ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Treatment Protocols ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Chi Squared ◽

Cognitive Benefit

ObjectiveThe objective of this paper is to evaluate the cognitive benefit of exercise after stroke, so as to provide more accurate and reliable guidance for targeted exercise intervention. Methods. Randomized controlled trials of the relationship between exercise and cognition after stroke were identified in Cochrane Library and PubMed. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane tool of bias. SMD and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and Chi-squared test (Q) was adopted to estimate the heterogeneity. Results. (a) Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria, including 1528 participants. Heterogeneity was from low to high such as attention (I2 = 0.00%), executive function (I2 = 0.00%), cognition (I2 = 64%), and working memory (I2 = 77%). (b) The overall effect on cognition was small (SMD = 0.16 [0.04, 0.28]) but significant and there is a difference between cognitive domains in attention (SMD = −0.35 [−0.57, −0.14]), executive function (SMD = −0.24 [−0.40, −0.08]), and working memory (SMD = 0.36 [0.20, 0.53]). (c) Exercise training was less effective before the 18th month after stroke. Higher benefits on cognition were found after combined therapy compared with other exercise programs, and the older the stroke survivors, the less the cognitive benefit of exercise. Conclusion. Small-to-moderate effect of exercise on cognitive benefit after stroke was found, and the effect was moderated by treatment protocols and sample characteristics.

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Evaluating Smoking Cessation Interventions and Cessation Rates in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ISRN Oncology ◽

10.5402/2011/849023 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Smriti Nayan ◽

Michael K. Gupta ◽

Doron D. Sommer

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Usual Care ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Tobacco Smoking ◽

Treatment Plan ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Comprehensive Treatment ◽

Oncology Patient

Background. Tobacco smoking cessation interventions in the oncology population are an important part of comprehensive treatment plan. Objectives. To evaluate through a systematic review smoking cessation interventions and cessation rates in cancer patients. Search Strategy. The literature was searched using Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library (inception to November 2010) by three independent review authors. Selection Criteria. Studies were included if tobacco smoking cessation interventions were evaluated and patients were randomized to usual care or an intervention. The primary outcome measure was cessation rates. Data Collection and Analysis. Two authors extracted data independently for each paper, with disagreements resolved by consensus. Main Results. The systematic review found eight RCTs investigating smoking cessation interventions in the oncology patient population. Pooled relative risks were calculated from two groups of RCTs of smoking cessation interventions based on followup duration. In both groups, the pooled relative risk did not suggest a statistically significant improvement in tobacco cessation compared to usual care. Conclusions. Our review demonstrates that recent interventions in the last decade which are a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches yield a statistically significant improvement in smoking cessation rates compared to usual care.

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Effect of electronic health interventions on metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036927 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. e036927

Author(s):

Dandan Chen ◽

Zhihong Ye ◽

Jing Shao ◽

Leiwen Tang ◽

Hui Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Usual Care ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Biochemical Indicators ◽

Positive Effects

ObjectiveWe aimed to examine whether eHealth interventions can effectively improve anthropometric and biochemical indicators of patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsPubMed, the Web of Science, Embase, Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Wanfang and Weipu databases were comprehensively searched for papers that were published from database inception to May 2019. Articles were included if the participants were metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients, the participants received eHealth interventions, the participants in the control group received usual care or were wait listed, the outcomes included anthropometric and biochemical indicators of MetS, and the study was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) or a controlled clinical trial (CCT). The Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies was used to assess the methodological quality of the included articles. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager V.5.3 software.ResultsIn our review, seven RCTs and two CCTs comprising 935 MetS participants met the inclusion criteria. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that eHealth interventions resulted in significant improvements in body mass index (standardised mean difference (SMD)=−0.36, 95% CI (−0.61 to −0.10), p<0.01), waist circumference (SMD=−0.47, 95% CI (−0.84 to −0.09), p=0.01) and systolic blood pressure(SMD=−0.35, 95% CI (−0.66 to −0.04), p=0.03) compared with the respective outcomes associated with the usual care or wait-listed groups. Based on the included studies, we found significant effects of the eHealth interventions on body weight. However, we did not find significant positive effects of the eHealth interventions on other metabolic parameters.ConclusionsThe results indicated that eHealth interventions were beneficial for improving specific anthropometric outcomes, but did not affect biochemical indicators of MetS. Therefore, whether researchers adopt eHealth interventions should be based on the purpose of the study. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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Effect of yoga on sleep quality and insomnia in women with sleep problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.2.12592/v3 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Weili Wang ◽

Kuang-Huei Chen ◽

Ying-Chieh Pan ◽

Szu-Nian Yang ◽

Yuan-Yu Chan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Control Group ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Meta Analyses

Abstract Objectives To examine the effectiveness and safety of yoga for women with sleep problems by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods Medline/PubMed, Clincalkey, ScienceDirect, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library were searched throughout the month of June 2019. Randomized controlled trials comparing yoga groups with control groups in women with sleep problems were included. Two reviewers independently evaluated risk of bias by using the risk of bias tool suggested by the Cochrane Collaboration for programming and conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The main outcome measure was sleep quality or the severity of insomnia, which was measured using subjective instruments, such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia severity index (ISI), or objective instruments, such as polysomnography, actigraphy, and safety of the intervention. For each outcome, standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined. Results Nineteen studies including 1832 participants were included in this systematic review. Meta-analyses revealed positive effects of yoga using PSQI or ISI scores in 16 randomized control trials (RCTs) compared with the control group in improving sleep quality in women, PSQI (SMD = −0.54; 95% CI = −0.89 to −0.19 ; P = 0.003). However, three RCTs revealed no effects of yoga compared with the control group in reducing the severity of insomnia in women using ISI (SMD = −0.13; 95% CI = −0.74 to 0.48; P = 0.69). Seven RCTs revealed no evidence for effects of yoga compared with the control group in improving sleep quality for women with breast cancer using PSQI (SMD = −0.15 ; 95% CI = −0.31 to 0.01; P = 0.5). Four RCTs revealed no evidence for the effects of yoga compared with the control group in improving the sleep quality for peri-or postmenopausal women using PSQI (SMD = −0.31; 95% CI = −0.95 to 0.33; P = 0.34).Yoga was not associated with serious adverse events. Discussion This systematic review and meta-analysis found that yoga intervention in some groups of women was beneficial in managing sleep problems. Despite certain disadvantages in methodology in the included studies, yoga may be recommended as a complementary therapy to women.

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Intermittent auscultation fetal monitoring during labour: A systematic scoping review to identify methods, effects, and accuracy

10.26686/wgtn.12375746 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

E Blix ◽

Robyn Maude ◽

E Hals ◽

S Kisa ◽

E Karlsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Fetal Monitoring ◽

Low Risk ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

National Guidelines ◽

Creative Commons ◽

Active Labour ◽

Randomised Controlled

© 2019 Blix et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Background Intermittent auscultation (IA) is the technique of listening to and counting the fetal heart rate (FHR) for short periods during active labour and continuous cardiotocography (CTC) implies FHR monitoring for longer periods. Although the evidence suggests that IA is the best way to monitor healthy women at low risk of complications, there is no scientific evidence for the ideal device, timing, frequency and duration for IA. We aimed to give an overview of the field, identify and describe methods and practices for performing IA, map the evidence and accuracy for different methods of IA, and identify research gaps. Methods We conducted a systematic scoping review following the Joanna Briggs methodology. Med-line, EMBASE, Cinahl, Maternity & Infant Care, Cochrane Library, SveMed+, Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs and African Journals Online were searched for publications up to January 2019. We did hand searches in relevant articles and databases. Studies from all countries, international guidelines and national guidelines from Denmark, United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Australia, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway were included. We did quality assessment of the guidelines according to the AGREEMENT tool. We performed a meta-analysis assessing the effects of IA with a Doppler device vs. Pinard device using methods described in The Cochrane Handbook, and we performed an overall assessment of the summary of evidence using the GRADE approach. Results The searches generated 6408 hits of which 26 studies and 11 guidelines were included in the review. The studies described slightly different techniques for performing IA, and some did not provide detailed descriptions. Few of the studies provided details of normal and abnormal IA findings. All 11 guidelines recommended IA for low risk women, although they had slightly different recommendations on the frequency, timing, and duration for IA, and the FHR characteristics that should be observed. Four of the included studies, comprising 8436 women and their babies, were randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effect of IA with a Doppler device vs. a Pinard device. Abnormal FHRs were detected more often using the Doppler device than in those using the Pinard device (risk ratio 1.77; 95% confidence interval 1.29–2.43). There were no significant differences in any of the other maternal or neonatal outcomes. Four studies assessed the accuracy of IA findings. Normal FHR was easiest to identify correctly, whereas identifying periodic FHR patterns such as decelerations and saltatory patterns were more difficult. Conclusion Although IA is the recommended method, no trials have been published that evaluate protocols on how to perform it. Nor has any study assessed interrater agreements regarding interpretations of IA findings, and few have assessed to what degree clinicians can describe FHR patterns detected by IA. We found no evidence to recommend Doppler device instead of the Pinard for IA, or vice versa.

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The Effect of Physical Training on Heart Rate Variability in Healthy Children: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.2013-0063 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 147-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Carla Cristiane da Silva ◽

Ligia Maxwell Pereira ◽

Jefferson Rosa Cardoso ◽

Jonathan Patrick Moore ◽

Fábio Yuzo Nakamura

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Physical Training ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Total Power ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Positive Effects

The positive effects of physical training on heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy adults are widely recognized; however, the responsiveness to training in healthy children has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of physical training on HRV in prepubertal healthy children. Systematic computerized searches were performed from 1950 to 2012 in the following databases: Medline, Embase, Cinahl, Lilacs, Scielo, SportDiscus, ProQuest; Web of Science; PEDro; Academic Search Premier and the Cochrane Library. The key words used were: heart rate variability, autonomic nervous system, exercise training, physical activity, continuous exercise, intermittent exercise, children, prepubescent, adolescents, and healthy. Although the database search initially identified 6,164 studies, after removing duplicates and excluding by title the number was 148, however, only 2 studies were included in this systematic review. The meta-analysis compared the experimental group (n = 29) with the control group (n = 28) for the HRV parameters: RR intervals, SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, LF (log), HF (log), LF/HF and Total Power (log). The meta-analysis demonstrated similar HRV indices between both the experimental and control groups. In conclusion, the available results from randomized controlled trials do not support the hypothesis that physical training improves HRV in healthy children[AUQ2].

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The effect of yoga on sleep quality and insomnia in women with sleep problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.2.12592/v5 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Weili Wang ◽

Kuang-Huei Chen ◽

Ying-Chieh Pan ◽

Szu-Nian Yang ◽

Yuan-Yu Chan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Control Group ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Meta Analyses

Abstract Background: To examine the effectiveness and safety of yoga of women with sleep problems by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Medline/PubMed, ClinicalKey, ScienceDirect, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library were searched throughout the month of June, 2019. Randomized controlled trials comparing yoga groups with control groups in women with sleep problems were included. Two reviewers independently evaluated risk of bias by using the risk of bias tool suggested by the Cochrane Collaboration for programming and conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The main outcome measure was sleep quality or the severity of insomnia, which was measured using subjective instruments, such as the Pittsburgh Sleep QualityIndex (PSQI),Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), or objective instruments such as polysomnography, actigraphy, and safety of the intervention. For each outcome, a standardized mean difference (SMD) and confidence intervals (CIs) of 95% were determined. Results: Nineteen studies in this systematic review included 1832 participants. The meta-analysis of the combined data conducted according to Comprehensive Meta-Analysis showed a significant improvement in sleep (SMD =−0.327, 95% CI=−0.506 to −0.148,P<0.001).Meta-analyses revealed positive effects of yoga using PSQI scores in 16 randomized control trials (RCTs), compared with the control group in improving sleep quality among women usingPSQI (SMD = −0.54; 95% CI = −0.89 to −0.19; P = 0.003). However, three RCTs revealed no effects of yoga compared to the control groupin reducing insomnia among women using ISI (SMD = −0.13; 95% CI = −0.74 to 0.48; P = 0.69).Yoga was not associated with any serious adverse events. Discussion: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that yoga intervention in women can be beneficial whencompared to non-active control conditions in term of managing sleep problems.The moderator analyses suggest that participants in the non-breast cancer subgroup and participants in the non-peri/postmenopausal subgroup were associated with greater benefits, with a direct correlation of total class time with quality of sleep among other related benefits.

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The presence of fungal and parasitic infections in substances of human origin and their transmission via transfusions and transplantations: A protocol of two systematic reviews (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25674 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Petros C. Dinas ◽

Dragoslav Domanovic ◽

Yiannis Koutedakis ◽

Christos Hadjichristodoulou ◽

Ioannis Stefanidis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Reviews ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Parasitic Diseases ◽

Human Origin ◽

Data Synthesis ◽

Review Team ◽

Scientific Organisation

BACKGROUND The European Union Directives stipulate mandatory tests for the presence of some infections in donors or donations of substances of human origin (SoHO). In some circumstances, other pathogens including fungi and parasites may also pose a threat to the microbial safety of SoHO. OBJECTIVE The aim of the two systematic reviews is to identify, collect and evaluate scientific evidence for the presence of a) fungal and b) parasitic infections in donors and donations of SoHO, and their transmission via transfusion and transplantation. METHODS One algorithmic searching for fungal and one for parasitic diseases were applied in six scientific databases [PubMed; EMBASE; Web of Science; Scopus; Cochrane library (trials); CINAHL]. In addition, manual and algorithmic searches employed in 15 grey literature databases and 22 scientific organisation websites. Selection criteria for eligibility includes peer-reviewed publications and/or peer reviewed abstract publications from conference proceedings, which have examined prevalence/incidence, odds/risk ratios, risk difference of the presence of a) fungal and b) parasitic infections transmission in SoHO donor or donation and their transmission to recipients. Only studies that scrutinised donors and donated human blood, blood components, tissues, cells and organs, were considered as eligible. Data extraction from the eligible publications will be performed independently by two review team members. Data synthesis will include a qualitative description for the studies that will not provide evidence suitable for a meta-analysis and a random or fixed-effect meta-analysis model for quantitative data synthesis. RESULTS This is an ongoing study and presents a protocol of two systematic reviews to identify, collect and evaluate scientific evidence for the presence of a) fungal and b) parasitic infections in donors and donations of SoHO, and their transmission via transfusion and transplantation. CONCLUSIONS These systematic reviews will provide a basis for the development of a risk assessment of fungal and parasitic diseases transmission via SoHO. CLINICALTRIAL The systematic reviews have been prospectively registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42020160090; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=160090 CRD42020160110; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=160110

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