scholarly journals Methodology and Reporting Quality Evaluation of Acupuncture for Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Tinghui Hou ◽  
Qianhua Zheng ◽  
Xiumei Feng ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
...  

Objective. Since there is no consistent evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment, this review aims to summarize and critically evaluate the methodological and reporting quality of systematic reviews (SRs). Methods. We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM), and Wanfang databases from the date of establishment to April 2019. Two authors independently selected the articles, collected the data, and assessed the identified and included SRs with the revised measurement tool to assess systematic reviews (AMSTAR 2) and preferred reporting items for SRs and meta-analyses (PRISMA). The quality of outcomes was evaluated by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Results. Eleven SRs were included in this overview. The items of AMSTAR 2 in most SRs were poorly reported; only 3 SRs were rated as low quality by AMSTAR 2, and the remaining were rated as very low quality. A total of 8 SRs obtained a decent rating by PRISMA. With the GRADE tool, we have not found high-quality evidence that acupuncture is effective for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), so there is no certain conclusion on the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for MCI. Conclusion. The methodological and reporting quality of SRs on acupuncture for MCI is substandard, and the quality of evidence is poor. In future research, more efforts are needed to improve the quality of SRs in this field.

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-316
Author(s):  
Zi-Meng Li ◽  
Ying-Hui Jin ◽  
Yun-Yun Wang ◽  
Lu Cui ◽  
Wei-Jie Gao ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To summarize and evaluate the evidence of guidelines and systematic reviews (SRs) of nonpharmacological interventions for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to support the development of future guidelines and clinical decisions for MCI patients. Methods Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN), National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), American Academy of Neurology (AAN), Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNAHL, VIP, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Database were searched for relevant publications, including guidelines and SRs, from January 2014 to March 2019. Two authors independently screened articles, extracted data, and assessed the publications for adherence to the inclusion criteria. Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) was used to assess the quality of the guidelines, and Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR 2) was used to assess the quality of SRs. In addition, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to evaluate the quality of outcomes. Results Thirty-two articles were retrieved, including 1 guideline and 31 SRs. Fourteen SRs of physical exercise for MCI, six articles describing cognitive interventions, four articles describing acupuncture, and seven articles assessing dietary interventions (including four articles employing a Mediterranean diet, one article using vitamin B supplementation, and two articles assessing the effects of tea, coffee, and caffeine) were included. The quality of the articles was very low for 4 (13%), low for 10 (32%), and moderate for 17 (55%). Conclusions Based on the evidence available to date, nonpharmacological interventions may improve the current cognitive function of persons with MCI. In particular, physical exercise, cognitive interventions, and acupuncture exerted promising effects. However, due to the limited number and quality of the included publications, additional high-quality reviews are needed to further confirm.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 852-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wasiak ◽  
A. Y. Shen ◽  
R. Ware ◽  
T. J. O’Donohoe ◽  
C. M. Faggion

The objective of this study was to assess methodological and reporting quality of systematic reviews in hand and wrist pathology. MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to November 2016 for relevant studies. Reporting quality was evaluated using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and methodological quality using a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews, the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR). Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used to identify features associated with improved methodological quality. A total of 91 studies were included in the analysis. Most reviews inadequately reported PRISMA items regarding study protocol, search strategy and bias and AMSTAR items regarding protocol, publication bias and funding. Systematic reviews published in a plastics journal, or which included more authors, were associated with higher AMSTAR scores. A large proportion of systematic reviews within hand and wrist pathology literature score poorly with validated methodological assessment tools, which may affect the reliability of their conclusions. Level of evidence: I


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Zhao ◽  
Ze-qing Huang

Abstract Background Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common condition after general anesthesia (GA). Previous studies have reported that propofol can ameliorate the occurrence of such disorder. However, its results are still inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review will assess the efficacy and safety of propofol on POCD after GA. Methods Literature sources will be sought from inception to the present in Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the administration of propofol on POCD after GA. All searches will be carried out without limitations to language and publication status. Outcomes comprise of cognitive impairments changes, impairments in short-term memory, concentration, language comprehension, social integration, quality of life, and adverse events. Cochrane risk of bias tool will be utilized to assess study quality. We will evaluate the quality of evidence for each outcome using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. A narrative synthesis or a meta-analysis will be undertaken as appropriate. Discussion This study will systematically and comprehensively search literature and integrate evidence on the efficacy and safety of propofol on POCD after GA. Our findings will be of interest to clinicians and health-related policy makers. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020164096


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 153473541989002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seong Min Lee ◽  
Ho Cheol Choi ◽  
Min Kyung Hyun

Introduction: This article critically examines the systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) of complementary therapies for cancer patients to appraise the evidence level, and offers suggestions for future research and practice. Methods: The Cochrane Library and MEDLINE were searched from their inception to January 2018, to identify SR and MA of complementary therapies available for cancer patients. Final selected SR and MA were methodologically evaluated for their quality by applying the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR2) instrument. Data extraction and risk of quality assessments were performed by 2 independent reviewers. Results: A total of 104 studies were included in the analysis. The majority of the individual clinical trials included in the SR and MA were performed in China (48%) and the United States (26.9%). Breast cancer was the most studied cancer type (25%), and acupuncture was the most studied intervention (21%). Side effects of cancer such as pain, depression, and fatigue were effectively managed with complementary therapies. The methodologically problematic items included not listing the excluded studies and lack of protocol or protocol registration. Conclusions: With increasing interest in research, complementary therapies appear to be beneficial in reducing side effects and raising the quality of life of cancer patients. Complementary therapies have generally been studied for all cancers, with acupuncture being the most researched, regardless of the cancer type. Since AMSTAR2 is a stricter assessment tool than before, future studies need to consider the risk of methodological bias with caution and discuss appropriate overall quality assessment tools.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-57
Author(s):  
Amanda Yang Shen ◽  
Robert S Ware ◽  
Tom J O'Donohoe ◽  
Jason Wasiak

Background: An increasing number of systematic reviews are published on an annual basis. Although perusal of the full text of articles is preferable, abstracts are sometimes relied upon to guide clinical decisions. Despite this, the abstracts of systematic reviews have historically been poorly reported. We evaluated the reporting quality of systematic review abstracts within hand and wrist pathology literature. Methods: We searched MEDLINE®, EMBASE and Cochrane Library from inception to December 2017 for systematic reviews in hand and wrist pathology using the 12-item PRISMA-A checklist to assess abstract reporting quality. Results: A total of 114 abstracts were included. Most related to fracture (38%) or arthritis (17%) management. Forty-seven systematic reviews (41%) included meta-analysis. Mean PRISMA-A score was 3.6/12 with Cochrane reviews having the highest mean score and hand-specific journals having the lowest. Abstracts longer than 300 words (mean difference [MD]: 1.43, 95% CI [0.74, 2.13]; p <0.001) and systematic reviews with meta-analysis (MD: 0.64, 95% CI [0.05, 1.22]; p = 0.034) were associated with higher scores. Unstructured abstracts were associated with lower scores (MD: –0.65, 95% CI [–1.28, –0.02]; p = 0.044). A limitation of this study is the possible exclusion of relevant studies that were not published in the English language. Conclusion: Abstracts of systematic reviews pertaining to hand and wrist pathology have been suboptimally reported as assessed by the PRISMA-A checklist. Improvements in reporting quality could be achieved by endorsement of PRISMA-A guidelines by authors and journals, and reducing constraints on abstract length.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Can Wang ◽  
Xufei Luo ◽  
Maichao Li ◽  
Lingling Cui ◽  
Xinde Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives The Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare (RIGHT) checklist was used to assess the reporting quality of 2009–2019 Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) regarding gout and hyperuricemia, aimed to improve the reporting quality of future guidelines.Methods We searched PubMed, the Chinese Biomedical Literature database, the Wan Fang Database, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure from January 2009 to June 2019 for relevant guidelines. We also searched the websites of guideline development organizations (the Guidelines International Network, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the American College of Rheumatology, and the European League Against Rheumatism) (EULAR). Furthermore, supplementary guidelines reported in included articles were systematically searched, as well as Medlive and Google Scholar. Results Seventeen guidelines were included, of which one was in Chinese and 16 were in English. The mean reporting rate of the 35 items specified was 14.9 (42.5%), only five CPGs (29.4%) had a reporting rate >50%. Of the 35 items, three were very frequently reported. The reporting proportion of the seven domains (Basic information, Background, Evidence, Recommendations, Review and quality assurance, Funding and declaration and management of interests, and Other information) were 64.7%, 36.8%, 50.6% 50.6%, 42.9%, 8.82%, 33.8%, and 31.4%, respectively.Conclusion The reporting quality of the present guidelines for gout and hyperuricemia is relatively poor. We suggest that the RIGHT reporting checklist should be used by CPG developers to ensure higher reporting quality of future guidelines.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Ting Yuan ◽  
Jun Xiong ◽  
Xue Wang ◽  
Jun Yang ◽  
Yunfeng Jiang ◽  
...  

Background. Acupuncture had long been a primary treatment in the healthcare system of China. In recent years, there were more and more network meta-analyses (NMAs) in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion, but the quality evaluation of NMAs was rare. Objectives. The goal of this study was to evaluate the methodological and reporting quality of NMAs and summarize the effects of different treatments of acupuncture and moxibustion. Methods. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), WanFang Database (WF), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) were searched from inception to January 2020 without any language restriction. In addition, the unpublished studies and the references of initially included literature were also retrieved manually. We included all relevant NMAs treated with acupuncture and moxibustion; other therapies such as traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine may also be included, but at least three types fall under the category of acupuncture in each NMA. Outcome indicators were not limited. We selected AMSTAR2 and PRISMA-NMA to evaluate the methodological and reporting quality of eligible studies, respectively. Results. In total, 29 NMAs were included finally, including 12 Chinese references and 17 English references. All eligible studies were published from May 2013 to August 2019. The number of interventions was between 4 and 22. The number of clinical trials included ranged from 10 to 121, with a total of 1098 clinical trials. The NMAs were involved in up to 23 diseases, knee osteoarthritis and primary dysmenorrhea covered with 3 NMAs separately, others focusing on chronic functional constipation, lumbar disc herniation, chronic fatigue syndrome, and the like. The Jadad scale and RoB scale were used as the bias risk assessment tools. Among them, 7 articles adopted the Jadad scale, 22 articles adopted the RoB scale (1 article adopted both the Jadad scale and RoB scale), and only 1 article did not mention the risk assessment tool. The AMSTAR2 methodological evaluation showed that the highest score was 13.5 points and the lowest was 4, with an average of 8.64 and a median of 9.5. According to the quality criteria, only one of them was in high quality, twenty-four were in medium quality, and four were in low quality. The PRISMA-NMA reporting quality evaluation showed that the highest score was 29 points and the lowest was 13.5, with an average of 23.62 and a median of 24.5; severe flaws also existed in some items, especially in “Structured summary,” “Protocol and registration,” “Search,” “Data collection process,” “Data items,” “Additional analyses,” “Risk of bias across studies,” and “Results of additional analyses.” Conclusion. The number of NMAs in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion was still in the initial stage. Overall, their methodology and reports were of moderate quality. However, severe flaws also existed in some items. Because the eligible NMAs were limited, the conclusion needed further research to confirm its authenticity and reliability.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tea Vukusic Rukavina ◽  
Josko Viskic ◽  
Lovela Machala Poplasen ◽  
Danko Relic ◽  
Marko Marelic ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND As we are witnessing the evolution of social media (SM) use globally among the general population, popularity of SM has also been embraced by healthcare professionals. In the context of SM evolution and exponential growth of users, this rapid review summarizes recent findings about e-professionalism of healthcare professionals (HCPs). OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to review and characterize the original peer-reviewed research studies published from November 1, 2014 to November 31,, 2018 on e-professionalism of healthcare professionals, to assess the quality of methodologies and approaches used, to explore the impact of social media on e-professionalism of healthcare professionals recognizing benefits and dangers of social media and to provide insights to guide future research in this area. METHODS A search of the literature was performed in December 2018 using 3 databases (PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus). The searches were conducted using the following defined search terms: 'professionalism’ AND 'social media' OR 'Internet' OR ‘Facebook’ OR ‘Twitter’ OR ‘Instagram’. The search strategy was limited to studies published in English. This rapid review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews guidelines. RESULTS Of the 709 retrieved papers, a total of 58 studies were finally included in this review. Overall, the quality of the studies was satisfactory. Participants in the reviewed studies were from diverse healthcare professions. Medical health professionals were involved in about three-quarters of the studies. Three key benefits of SM on e-professionalism of HCPs were identified: 1) professional networking and collaboration, 2) professional education and training and 3) effectiveness of educational interventions about e-professionalism or impact of existing SM policies. For the selected studies, there are five recognized dangers of SM on e-professionalism of HCPs: 1) loosening accountability, 2) compromising confidentiality, 3) blurred professional boundaries, 4) depiction of unprofessional behavior, and 5) legal issues. This rapid review also recognizes recommendations for changes in educational curricula regarding e-professionalism or adopting novel approaches to existing SM policies as opportunities for improvement and barriers that influence HCPs use of SM in the context of e-professionalism. CONCLUSIONS Findings in reviewed studies indicate existence of both benefits and dangers of SM on e-professionalism of HCPs. Even though there are some barriers recognized, this review has highlighted existing recommendations for including e-professionalism in educational curricula of HCPs. Based on all evidence provided, this review provided new insights and guides for future research on this area. There is a clear need for robust research to investigate new emerging SM platforms, the efficiency of guidelines and educational interventions, and the specifics of each profession regarding their SM potential and usage. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO CRD42019131532; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019131532


2021 ◽  
pp. 096452842110095
Author(s):  
Xu Kuang ◽  
Wenjuan Fan ◽  
Jiawei Hu ◽  
Liqun Wu ◽  
Wei Yi ◽  
...  

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Methods: The Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical (VIP), Wanfang, and Chinese Biological Medicine (CBM) databases were electronically searched from their inception to 10 April 2019. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale were used as outcomes to assess effectiveness with respect to cognitive function. Assessment of risk of bias (ROB) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment were performed by two reviewers independently. Data were analyzed using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.3. Results: A total of 28 trials with 2144 participants were included in the qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. Four of the 28 trials (14%) were assessed as being at overall low ROB, 24 of the 28 trials (86%) were assessed as having overall high ROB. The quality of evidence for both MoCA and MMSE were deemed to be very low by the GRADE criteria. Results indicated that acupuncture groups may be benefiting more than non-acupuncture groups with respect to variation of MoCA scores (merged mean difference (MMD): 2.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.18 to 3.13, p < 0.00001; heterogeneity: χ2 = 35.52, p = 0.0007, I2 = 63%), and the heterogeneity decreased in both subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. In addition, acupuncture groups might be benefiting more than non-acupuncture groups in terms of changes in MMSE score (MMD = 2.97, 95% CI = 2.13 to 3.80, p < 0.00001; heterogeneity: χ2 = 269.75; p < 0.00001; I2 = 92%), and the heterogeneity decreased in subgroup analysis. Only one RCT addressed adverse events, and the symptoms were mild and did not affect treatment and evaluation. Conclusion: Acupuncture could be effective and safe for PSCI. Nevertheless, the results should be interpreted cautiously due to the high ROB of included trials and very low quality of evidence for assessed outcomes.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e027062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haifeng Zhang ◽  
Jonathan Huntley ◽  
Rohan Bhome ◽  
Benjamin Holmes ◽  
Jack Cahill ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo determine the effect of computerised cognitive training (CCT) on improving cognitive function for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched through January 2018.Eligibility criteriaRandomised controlled trials comparing CCT with control conditions in those with MCI aged 55+ were included.Data extraction and synthesisTwo independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Effect sizes (Hedges’ g and 95% CIs) were calculated and random-effects meta-analyses were performed where three or more studies investigated a comparable intervention and outcome. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 statistic.Results18 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analyses, involving 690 participants. Meta-analysis revealed small to moderate positive treatment effects compared with control interventions in four domains as follows: global cognitive function (g=0.23, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.44), memory (g=0.30, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.50), working memory (g=0.39, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.66) and executive function (g=0.20, 95% CI −0.03 to 0.43). Statistical significance was reached in all domains apart from executive function.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis provides evidence that CCT improves cognitive function in older people with MCI. However, the long-term transfer of these improvements and the potential to reduce dementia prevalence remains unknown. Various methodological issues such as heterogeneity in outcome measures, interventions and MCI symptoms and lack of intention-to-treat analyses limit the quality of the literature and represent areas for future research.


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