Digital and online symptom checkers and health assessment/triage services for urgent health problems: systematic review

ObjectivesIn England, the NHS111 service provides assessment and triage by telephone for urgent health problems. A digital version of this service has recently been introduced. We aimed to systematically review the evidence on digital and online symptom checkers and similar services.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesWe searched Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Health Management Information Consortium, Web of Science and ACM Digital Library up to April 2018, supplemented by phrase searches for known symptom checkers and citation searching of key studies.Eligibility criteriaStudies of any design that evaluated a digital or online symptom checker or health assessment service for people seeking advice about an urgent health problem.Data extraction and synthesisData extraction and quality assessment (using the Cochrane Collaboration version of QUADAS for diagnostic accuracy studies and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute tool for observational studies) were done by one reviewer with a sample checked for accuracy and consistency. We performed a narrative synthesis of the included studies structured around pre-defined research questions and key outcomes.ResultsWe included 29 publications (27 studies). Evidence on patient safety was weak. Diagnostic accuracy varied between different systems but was generally low. Algorithm-based triage tended to be more risk averse than that of health professionals. There was very limited evidence on patients’ compliance with online triage advice. Study participants generally expressed high levels of satisfaction, although in mainly uncontrolled studies. Younger and more highly educated people were more likely to use these services.ConclusionsThe English ‘digital 111’ service has been implemented against a background of uncertainty around the likely impact on important outcomes. The health system may need to respond to short-term changes and/or shifts in demand. The popularity of online and digital services with younger and more educated people has implications for health equity.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018093564.

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Iatrogenic addiction or dependence as a result of prescription oxycodone use in persons with chronic noncancer pain: A systematic review

Journal of Opioid Management ◽

10.5055/jom.2021.0616 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 79-96

Author(s):

Megan Dol, BSc ◽

Mark Oremus, PhD

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Cochrane Collaboration ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Chronic Noncancer Pain ◽

Noncancer Pain

Objective: To determine the incidence of addiction and dependence in persons with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) who are treated with oxycodone.Design: Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to January 2020. Of 1,320 retrieved citations screened by two independent raters at title and abstract and full-text screening, six articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria for the systematic review. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment followed article screening. The Cochrane Collaboration tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) were used to assess the risk of bias in individual studies.Results: Two of the six articles reported addiction and the remaining four reported dependence. The incidence rates of addiction were 2.91 percent and 1.72 percent, and the incidence rates of dependence were 0.00 percent, 0.44 percent, 0.45 percent, and 5.77 percent. In all articles, addiction and dependence were treated as secondary outcomes. Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) had follow-up lengths of less than 31 days, which is insufficient to assess the incidence of addiction or dependence.Conclusions: The results of this systematic review show that oxycodone use leads to addiction and dependence in a small proportion of individuals with CNCP. However, one must exercise caution when drawing conclusions from the six included articles. Future studies in the area should examine addiction and dependence as primary outcomes using adequate follow-up periods.

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Musculoskeletal care pathways for adults with hip and knee pain referred for specialist opinion: a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027874 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. e027874 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kate Button ◽

Fiona Morgan ◽

Alison Lesley Weightman ◽

Stephen Jones

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Knee Pain ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Health Management ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Care Pathways ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Musculoskeletal Care ◽

Randomised Controlled

ObjectiveMusculoskeletal care pathways are variable and inconsistent. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence for the clinical and/or cost effectiveness of current care pathways for adults with hip and/or knee pain referred for specialist opinion.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesElectronic database searches were carried out in MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, PEDro, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central and Health Management Information Consortium without language restriction from 1990 onwards. Websites were reviewed for grey literature.Eligibility criteriaAll study designs and documents that considered care pathways for adults with musculoskeletal hip and/or knee pain referred for specialist opinion were screened by two reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for randomised controlled trials and the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists.Data extraction and synthesisData extraction and quality assessment were performed by one reviewer and checked by a second. Findings are reported narratively.ResultsThe titles and abstracts of 1248 articles were screened and 140 full-text articles retrieved. 19 papers reporting 17 studies met the study inclusion criteria. Quality was low due to study design and methodological flaws. Most of the outcomes relate to organisational process at the ‘meso’ level of a whole systems approach.ConclusionIt can be concluded that the pathway is not linear, containing variations and activity loops. The available evidence suggests that, from the point of referral for specialist opinion, a model is required that integrates the skills of all the different healthcare professionals and streamlining is required to ensure that individuals are seen by the healthcare professional that best meets their needs. There is very limited evidence of patient experience informing knee and hip care pathways.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42016035510.

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The impact of decision aids in patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028379 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. e028379 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jenaya Goldwag ◽

Priscilla Marsicovetere ◽

Peter Scalia ◽

Heather A Johnson ◽

Marie-Anne Durand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Decision Aids ◽

Case Series ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

The Impact ◽

Colorectal Cancer Treatment

ObjectivesOur aim was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to determine the impact of patient decision aids (PDA) on patients facing treatment decisions for colorectal cancer.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesSources included Embase, Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library from inception to June, 20, 2019.Eligibility criteriaWe included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, mixed methods and case series in which a PDA for colorectal cancer treatment was used. Qualitative studies were excluded from our review.Data extraction and synthesisFollowing execution of the search strategy by a medical librarian, two blinded independent reviewers identified articles for inclusion. Two blinded reviewers were also responsible for data extraction, risk of bias and study quality assessments. Any conflict in article inclusion or extraction was resolved by discussion.ResultsOut of 3773 articles identified, three met our inclusion criteria: one RCT, one before-and-after study and one mixed-method study. In these studies, the use of a PDA for colorectal cancer treatment was associated with increased patient knowledge, satisfaction and preparation for making a decision. On quality assessment, two of three studies were judged to be of low quality.ConclusionA paucity of evidence exists on the effect of PDA for colorectal cancer treatment with existing evidence being largely of low quality. Further investigation is required to determine the effect of decision aids for colorectal cancer treatment as well as reasons for the lack of PDA development and implementation in this area.Prospero registration numberCRD42018095153.

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Neighbourhood socioeconomic status and overweight/obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028238 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. e028238 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Shimels Hussien Mohammed ◽

Tesfa Dejenie Habtewold ◽

Mulugeta Molla Birhanu ◽

Tesfamichael Awoke Sissay ◽

Balewgizie Sileshi Tegegne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Observational Studies ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Neighbourhood Socioeconomic Status

ObjectiveLow neighbourhood socioeconomic status (NSES) has been linked to a higher risk of overweight/obesity, irrespective of the individual’s own socioeconomic status. No meta-analysis study has been done on the association. Thus, this study was done to synthesise the existing evidence on the association of NSES with overweight, obesity and body mass index (BMI).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Sciences and Google Scholar databases were searched for articles published until 25 September 2019.Eligibility criteriaEpidemiological studies, both longitudinal and cross-sectional ones, which examined the link of NSES to overweight, obesity or BMI, were included.Data extraction and synthesisData extraction was done by two reviewers, working independently. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for the observational studies. The summary estimates of the relationships of NSES with overweight, obesity and BMI statuses were calculated with random-effects meta-analysis models. Heterogeneity was assessed by Cochran’s Q and I2 statistics. Subgroup analyses were done by age categories, continents, study designs and NSES measures. Publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of funnel plots and Egger’s regression test.ResultA total of 21 observational studies, covering 1 244 438 individuals, were included in this meta-analysis. Low NSES, compared with high NSES, was found to be associated with a 31% higher odds of overweight (pooled OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.47, p<0.001), a 45% higher odds of obesity (pooled OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.74, p<0.001) and a 1.09 kg/m2 increase in mean BMI (pooled beta=1.09, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.50, p<0.001).ConclusionNSES disparity might be contributing to the burden of overweight/obesity. Further studies are warranted, including whether addressing NSES disparity could reduce the risk of overweight/obesity.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017063889

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Protocol for a systematic review and qualitative synthesis of information quality frameworks in eHealth

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024722 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. e024722 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kayode Philip Fadahunsi ◽

James Tosin Akinlua ◽

Siobhan O’Connor ◽

Petra A Wark ◽

Joseph Gallagher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Patient Safety ◽

Global Health ◽

Information Quality ◽

Health Management ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Primary Data ◽

Academic Journal ◽

Qualitative Synthesis ◽

Eligibility Criteria

IntroductionElectronic health (eHealth) applications have become a very large repository of health information which informs critical decisions relating to the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of patients. Poor information quality (IQ) within eHealth may compromise patient safety. Evaluation of IQ in eHealth is therefore necessary to promote patient safety. An IQ framework specifies what aspects of information to assess and how to conduct the assessment. This systematic review aims to identify dimensions within existing IQ frameworks in eHealth and develop a new IQ framework for the assessment of eHealth.Method and analysisWe will search Embase, Medline, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Maternity and Infant Care, PsycINFO (American Psychological Association), Global Health, Scopus, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, Health Management Information Consortium and reference lists of relevant publications for articles published in English until November 2018. Studies will be selected by two independent reviewers based on prespecified eligibility criteria. Two reviewers will independently extract data in each eligible study using a prepiloted Microsoft Excel data extraction form. Thematic synthesis will be employed to define IQ dimensions and develop a new IQ framework for eHealth.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this systematic review as primary data will not be collected. The result of the review will be disseminated through publication in an academic journal and scientific conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018097142.

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Incidence of sudden cardiac death in the young: a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040815 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. e040815

Author(s):

Keith Couper ◽

Oliver Putt ◽

Richard Field ◽

Kurtis Poole ◽

William Bradlow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sudden Cardiac Death ◽

General Population ◽

Cardiac Death ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Prevalence Studies

ObjectiveTo summarise studies describing incidence of sudden cardiac death in a general population of young individuals to inform screening policy.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesDatabase searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane library (all inception to current) on 29 April 2019 (updated 16 November 2019), and forward/backward citation tracking of eligible studies.Study eligibility criteriaAll studies that reported incidence of sudden cardiac death in young individuals (12–39 years) in a general population, with no restriction on language or date. Planned subgroups were incidence by age, sex, race and athletic status (including military personnel).Data extractionTwo reviewers independently assessed study eligibility, extracted study data and assessed risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for prevalence studies.AnalysisReported incidence of sudden cardiac death in the young per 100 000 person-years.Results38 studies that reported incidence across five continents. We identified substantial heterogeneity in population, sudden cardiac death definition, and case ascertainment methods, precluding meta-analysis. Median reported follow-up years was 6.97 million (IQR 2.34 million–23.70 million) and number of sudden cardiac death cases was 64 (IQR 40–251). In the general population, the median of reported incidence was 1.7 sudden cardiac death per 100 000 person-years (IQR 1.3–2.6, range 0.75–11.9). Most studies (n=14, 54%) reported an incidence between one and two cases per 100 000 person-years. Incidence was higher in males and older individuals.ConclusionsThis systematic review identified variability in the reported incidence of sudden cardiac death in the young across studies. Most studies reported an incidence between one and two cases per 100 000 person-years.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019120563.

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Subtypes of Sport-Related Concussion: a Systematic Review and Meta-cluster Analysis

Sports Medicine ◽

10.1007/s40279-020-01321-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 50 (10) ◽

pp. 1829-1842

Author(s):

S. Langdon ◽

M. Königs ◽

E. A. M. C. Adang ◽

E. Goedhart ◽

J. Oosterlaan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Outcome ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Multiple Correspondence Analysis ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Cochrane Collaboration ◽

Symptom Clusters ◽

Bias Analysis ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Cluster A

Abstract Objective Current clinical guidelines provide a unitary approach to manage sport-related concussion (SRC), while heterogeneity in the presentation of symptoms suggests that subtypes of SRC may exist. We systematically reviewed the available evidence on SRC subtypes and associated clinical outcomes. Data Sources Ovid Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus Eligibility Criteria for Selecting Studies Electronic databases were searched for studies: (i) identifying SRC symptom clusters using classification methodology; or (ii) associating symptom clusters to clinical outcome variables. A total of 6,146 unique studies were identified, of which 75 full texts were independently assessed by two authors for eligibility. A total of 22 articles were included for systematic review. Data Extraction Two independent authors performed data extraction and risk of bias analysis using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Data Synthesis Six studies found evidence for existence of SRC symptom clusters. Combining the available literature through Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) provided evidence for the existence of a migraine cluster, a cognitive–emotional cluster, a sleep–emotional cluster, a neurological cluster, and an undefined feelings cluster. Nineteen studies found meaningful associations between SRC symptom clusters and clinical outcomes. Clusters mapping to the migraine cluster were most frequently reported in the literature and were most strongly related to aspects of clinical outcome. Conclusions The available literature provides evidence for the existence of at least five subtypes in SRC symptomatology, with clear relevance to clinical outcome. Systematically embedding the differentiation of SRC subtypes into prognosis, clinical management, and intervention strategies may optimize the recovery from SRC.

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Effectiveness of XP-Endo Finisher and passive ultrasonic irrigation on intracanal medicament removal from root canals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Oral Health ◽

10.1186/s12903-021-01644-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jiani Zhou ◽

Tingjun Liu ◽

Lihong Guo

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Passive Ultrasonic Irrigation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Ultrasonic Irrigation

Abstract Background XP-Endo Finisher (XPF) and passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) are commonly used in intracanal medicament removal. The effectiveness of these two techniques needs to be compared, and evidence-based research should be conducted. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar up to December 20th, 2020. The outcomes of the included trials were pooled into the Cochrane Collaboration’s Review Manager 5.3 software. Cochrane’s risk-of-bias tool 2.0 was applied to assess the risk of bias. Results Nine articles were included in this systematic review and processed for data extraction, and eight studies were identified for meta-analysis. In general, the use of PUI showed better medicament removal effectiveness than XPF (odds ratio [OR]: 3.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.96–4.86; P < 0.001). PUI was also significantly more efficient than XPF in the apical third (OR: 3.42; 95% CI, 1.32–8.84; P = 0.01). For trials using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) alone, PUI was also significantly more effective than XPF on intracanal medicaments removal (OR: 5.23; 95% CI, 2.79–9.82; P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between PUI and XPF when NaOCl and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) were used in combination (OR: 1.51; 95% CI, 0.74–3.09; P = 0.26). In addition, for studies whose intracanal medicament periods were two weeks, the effectiveness of PUI was statistically better than the XPF (OR: 7.73; 95% CI, 3.71–16.07; P < 0.001). Nevertheless, for trials whose intracanal medicament time was one week or over two weeks, no differences between the XPF and PUI were found (OR: 1.54; 95% CI, 0.74–3.22; P = 0.25) (OR: 1.42; 95% CI, 0.44–4.61; P = 0.56). Conclusions The meta-analysis is the first study to quantitatively compare the effectiveness of XPF and PUI techniques on intracanal medicaments removal. With rigorous eligibility criteria, the study only included high-quality randomised controlled trials. The study indicated that PUI might be superior over XPF techniques for removing intracanal medicaments from artificial standardized grooves and cavities in the root canal system. The anatomical areas, irrigation protocol, and intracanal medicaments time may influence the cleaning efficacy.

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Use of AbobotulinumtoxinA for Cosmetic Treatments in the Neck, and Middle and Lower Areas of the Face: A Systematic Review

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins13020169 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 169

Author(s):

Hassan Galadari ◽

Ibrahim Galadari ◽

Riekie Smit ◽

Inna Prygova ◽

Alessio Redaelli

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Masseter Muscle ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

Relevant Evidence ◽

The Face ◽

Positive Results

AbobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNT-A) has been used for various cosmetic purposes, including minimization of moderate to severe lines, or other cosmetic indications, in the face and neck. We carried out a systematic review to identify all relevant evidence on the treatment approaches and outcomes of aboBoNT-A as a cosmetic treatment of the middle and lower areas of the face, and the neck. Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, congress proceedings and review bibliographies were searched for relevant studies. Identified articles were screened against pre-specified eligibility criteria. Of 560 unique articles identified, 10 were included for data extraction (three observational studies, 1 randomized controlled trial [with two articles] and five non-randomized trials). The articles provided data on gummy/asymmetric smile (2), marionette lines (5), masseter muscle volume (2), nasal wrinkles (2), perioral wrinkles (3) and the platysma muscle (4). All articles reporting on efficacy of aboBoNT-A demonstrated positive results, including reduction of wrinkles (5), reduction of masseter muscle (2) and degree of gummy smile (1) compared with before treatment. No serious adverse events were reported and patient satisfaction was high. In conclusion, positive findings support further research of aboBoNT-A for the middle and lower areas of the face, and in the neck, which are largely unapproved indications.

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Safety of furazolidone-containing regimen in Helicobacter pylori infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037375 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. e037375

Author(s):

Chao-ran Ji ◽

Jing Liu ◽

Yue-yue Li ◽

Chuan-guo Guo ◽

Jun-yan Qu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Treatment Discontinuation ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Daily Dose ◽

H Pylori

ObjectivesFurazolidone containing regimen is effectivefor Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, but its safetyremains controversial. To assess the safety of furazolidone containing regimenin H. pylori infection.DesignA systematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus databases were systematically searched for eligible randomised controlled trials.Eligibility criteriaStudies comparing furazolidone with non-furazolidone-containing regimen, variable durations or doses of furazolidone were included.Data extraction and synthesisTwo reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data. Primary outcomes were the risk of total adverse events (AEs), serious AEs and severe AEs, expressed as relative risk (RR) with 95% CI. Secondary outcomes contained the incidence of individual adverse symptoms, AE-related treatment discontinuation and compliance.ResultsTwenty-six articles were identified from 2039 searched records, of which 14 studies (n=2540) compared furazolidone with other antibiotics. The eradication rates of furazolidone-containing regimen were higher than those of other antibiotics in both intention-to-treat (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.12) and per-protocol analysis (RR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.10). Only two serious AEs were reported in furazolidone group (2/1221, 0.16%). No significant increased risk was observed for the incidence of total AEs (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.21) and severe AEs (RR 1.81, 95% CI 0.91 to 3.60). Twelve studies (n=3139) compared different durations of furazolidone, and four studies (n=343) assessed variable doses. Elevated risk of total AEs and severe AEs were only found in a high daily dose of furazolidone rather than prolonged duration. The incidence of AE-related treatment discontinuation and compliance of patients were all similar, irrespective of dose and duration adjustments.ConclusionFurazolidone-containing regimen has a similar risk of AEs and compliance as non-furazolidone-containing regimen. A low daily dose of 200 mg is well-tolerated for 14 day regimen and should be first considered.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019137247

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