scholarly journals Computer-Assisted versus Oral-and-Written History Taking for the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease: a Systematic Review of the Literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannis Pappas ◽  
Jitka Všetečková ◽  
Shoba Poduval ◽  
Pei Ching Tseng ◽  
Josip Car
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cochrane Collaboration ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
History Taking ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Cvd Prevention

Background and objectives: CVD is an important global healthcare issue; it is the leading cause of global mortality, with an increasing incidence identified in both developed and developing countries. It is also an extremely costly disease for healthcare systems unless managed effectively. In this review we aimed to: – Assess the effect of computer-assisted versus oral-and-written history taking on the quality of collected information for the prevention and management of CVD. – Assess the effect of computer-assisted versus oral-and-written history taking on the prevention and management of CVD. Methods: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials that included participants of 16 years or older at the beginning of the study, who were at risk of CVD (prevention) or were either previously diagnosed with CVD (management). We searched all major databases. We assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Results: Two studies met the inclusion criteria. One comparing the two methods of history-taking for the prevention of cardiovascular disease n = 75. The study shows that generally the patients in the experimental group underwent more laboratory procedures, had more biomarker readings recorded and/or were given (or had reviewed), more dietary changes than the control group. The other study compares the two methods of history-taking for the management of cardiovascular disease (n = 479). The study showed that the computerized decision aid appears to increase the proportion of patients who responded to invitations to discuss CVD prevention with their doctor. The Computer- Assisted History Taking Systems (CAHTS) increased the proportion of patients who discussed CHD risk reduction with their doctor from 24% to 40% and increased the proportion who had a specific plan to reduce their risk from 24% to 37%. Discussion: With only one study meeting the inclusion criteria, for prevention of CVD and one study for management of CVD we did not gather sufficient evidence to address all of the objectives of the review. We were unable to report on most of the secondary patient outcomes in our protocol. Conclusions: We tentatively conclude that CAHTS can provide individually-tailored information about CVD prevention. However, further primary studies are needed to confirm these findings. We cannot draw any conclusions in relation to any other clinical outcomes at this stage. There is a need to develop an evidence base to support the effective development and use of CAHTS in this area of practice. In the absence of evidence on effectiveness, the implementation of computer-assisted history taking may only rely on the clinicians’ tacit knowledge, published monographs and viewpoint articles.

scholarly journals Impact of Vibration on the Levels of Biomarkers: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 030157422110195
Author(s):  
Ashish Agrawal ◽  
TM Chou
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Tooth Movement ◽  
Orthodontic Tooth Movement ◽  
Cochrane Collaboration ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Electronic Search ◽  
Proquest Dissertation

Introduction: The objective of this systematic review is to assess the effect of vibrational force on biomarkers for orthodontic tooth movement. Methods: An electronic search was conducted for relevant studies (up to December 31, 2020) on the following databases: Pubmed, Google scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wiley Library, and ProQuest Dissertation Abstracts and Thesis database. Hand searching of selected orthodontic journals was also undertaken. The selected studies were assessed for the risk of bias in Cochrane collaboration risk of bias tool. The “traffic plot” and “weighted plot” risk of bias distribution are designed in the RoB 2 tool. The 2 authors extracted the data and analyzed it. Results: Six studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The risks of biases were high for 4, low and some concern for other 2 studies. The biomarkers, medium, device, frequency and duration of device, as well as other data were extracted. The outcomes of the studies were found to be heterogenous. Conclusion: One study showed highly statistically significant levels of IL-1 beta with <.001. Rate of tooth movement was correlated with levels of released biomarkers under the influence of vibrational force in 3 studies, but it was found to be significant only in 1 study. It was further observed that vibration does not have any significant reduction in pain and discomfort.

scholarly journals Systematic review of evidence underpinning non-pharmacological therapies in dementia

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Olley ◽  
Andrea Morales
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Pharmacological Therapy ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Behavioural Treatment ◽  
Significant Research ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
Meta Analyses

Objective Dementia is one of the most common illnesses worldwide, and is one of the most important causes of disability in older people. Currently, dementia affects over 35 million people around the globe. It is expected that this number will increase to 65.7 million by 2030. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment to control the principal behaviour symptoms may help reduce these numbers and delay the progression to more advanced and dangerous stages of this disorder with resultant increase quality of life for those affected. The main goal of the present systematic literature review was to examine contemporary evidence relating to non-pharmacological therapy in the treatment of dementia. Methods To achieve the study goal, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was used. Results This study identified the five most common behaviours in patients with dementia as aggression, wandering, agitation, apathy and sleep disturbances. Two non-pharmacological therapies were the most studied treatment: music therapy and aromatherapy. Ten other non-pharmacological therapies were also identified, but these lack a sufficient evidence-base. Conclusion Although all the therapies identified could be used as part of the treatment of behavioural symptoms, there is insufficient evidence relating to the indications, appropriate use and effectiveness of these therapies to apply in each behavioural treatment. Thus, the present study has demonstrated a significant research gap. What is known about the topic? Despite the widespread use of many different types of therapies, there is limited evidence regarding the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical therapies deployed in the management of behaviours of concern manifested by some people who suffer with dementia in all its forms. What does this paper add? This systematic review examines contemporary evidence from the literature to determine whether there is an evidence base available that would underpin the use of these therapies. This report on a PRISMA systematic review of the available literature demonstrates that only two therapies have some evidence to underpin the use of these non-pharmaceutical therapies and that a significant research gap is exists. What are the implications for practitioners? The implications for practitioners is that significant research effort is required to determine the efficacy of many of the therapies that are currently deployed, and thus many of the therapies used lack an evidence base at this time.

scholarly journals Clinical Evidence in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea with Oral Appliances: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Andrea Rossi ◽  
Antonino Lo Giudice ◽  
Camilla Di Pardo ◽  
Alberto Teodoro Valentini ◽  
Francesca Marradi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Sleep Apnoea ◽  
Common Finding ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Oral Appliances ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Definition Of

Background. Recent clinical guidelines have extended indications for oral appliances to subjects affected by moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The aim of this systematic review covering this important issue for public health is twofold: updating and summarizing the best available scientific evidence by selecting RCTs of quality only, and identifying the therapeutic pathways that can be transferred to the current clinical practice. Methods. All the abstracts which were published before February 18, 2019, have been identified in three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane). The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias was used as an assessment tool in order to evaluate the quality of the selected studies. Results. The search strategy yielded 2,260 studies. After removing duplicates and studies that did not comply with the inclusion criteria, 32 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and 17 RCTs were finally included in the qualitative synthesis. The 17 selected studies were very heterogeneous in the type of included RCTs in terms of patient inclusion criteria, sample size, distribution of the two genders in the various groups, duration of treatment, and definition of primary and secondary outcomes, without any restriction on the definition of the control group. A common finding was the positive responsiveness of oral appliance treatment in subjects affected by mild-to-moderate OSA with some evidence for cases of severe OSA. Conclusion. Higher-quality studies are needed in order to provide additional useful guidelines for dental clinicians for OSA management.

scholarly journals Psychosocial interventions for adults with visible differences: A systematic review

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyson Norman ◽  
Timothy P Moss
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Psychosocial Adjustment ◽  
Psychosocial Intervention ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Background: Some individuals with visible differences have been found to experience psychosocial adjustment problems that can lead to social anxiety and isolation. Various models of psychosocial intervention have been used to reduce social anxiety and appearance related distress in this population. The objective of this review was to update a previous systematic review assessing the efficacy of psychosocial intervention programs for adults with visible differences. The original review (Bessell & Moss, 2007) identified 12 papers for inclusion. Methods: A search protocol identified studies from 13 electronic journal databases. Methods: Studies were selected in accordance with pre-set inclusion criteria and relevant data were extracted. Results: This update identified an additional four papers that met the inclusion criteria. Two papers provided very limited evidence for the efficacy of a combined cognitive-behavioural and social skills training approach. None of the papers provided sufficient evidence for the optimal duration, intensity or setting of psychosocial interventions for this population. Discussion: The review concluded that a greater number of Randomised Controlled Trials and experimental studies were required to increase the methodological validity of intervention studies.

Psycho-educational interventions focused on maternal or infant sleep for pregnant women to prevent the onset of antenatal and postnatal depression: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natsu Sasaki ◽  
Naonori Yasuma ◽  
Erika Obikane ◽  
Zui Narita ◽  
Junpei Sekiya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Infant Sleep ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Maternal Mood ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background This systematic review aimed to evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to examine the effect of maternal and infant sleep intervention during women’s pregnancy for the purpose of preventing perinatal depression. Method A systematic search (from inception – January 28 th , 2019) for RCTs using five electronic databases—the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO and Ichushi Web (Japan Medical Abstracts Society)—was conducted. Twelve investigators independently conducted initial screenings based on title and abstract, and then two researchers performed full-text reviews one by one. A meta-analysis would be conducted if at least three studies were found. However, only two articles that met inclusion criteria, and narrative data synthesis was conducted for these two articles. The study protocol has been registered at PROSPERO (CRD42019119999). Result A total of 13,644 studies were initially searched. After removing duplicates, 10,537 studies were screened, and finally, two studies met the inclusion criteria. In both studies, the intervention was a one-time face-to-face session during pregnancy to deliver the behavioral knowledge and skills for optimizing sleep hygiene for both infant and mother. Effectiveness of the intervention in improving maternal mood was not significant in one study. In the other, there was a significant difference in maternal mood between the intervention and control group. No mood comparison was made between baseline and post-intervention. Conclusion This study found limited evidence to support the effectiveness of sleep intervention for all pregnant women, which means “universal intervention”, to protect maternal mental health. Further well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.

Randomized Controlled Trials of Headache Treatments in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa T. Bushman ◽  
Gabriella Cozzi ◽  
Rachel G. Sinkey ◽  
Catherine H. Smith ◽  
Michael W. Varner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
At Risk ◽  
English Language ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Headache Diagnosis ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
In Pregnancy

Abstract Objective Headaches affect 88% of reproductive-aged women. Yet data are limited addressing treatment of headache in pregnancy. While many women experience improvement in pregnancy, primary and secondary headaches can develop. Consequently, pregnancy is a time when headache diagnosis can influence maternal and fetal interventions. This study was aimed to summarize existing randomized control trials (RCTs) addressing headache treatment in pregnancy. Study Design We searched PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and SCOPUS from January 1, 1970 through June 31, 2019. Studies were eligible if they were English-language RCTs addressing treatment of headache in pregnancy. Conference abstracts and studies investigating postpartum headache were excluded. Three authors reviewed English-language RCTs addressing treatment of antepartum headache. To be included, all authors agreed each article to meet the following criteria: predefined control group, participants underwent randomization, and treatment of headache occurred in the antepartum period. If inclusion criteria were met no exclusions were made. Our systematic review registration number was CRD42019135874. Results A total of 193 studies were reviewed. Of the three that met inclusion criteria all were small, with follow-up designed to measure pain reduction and showed statistical significance. Conclusion Our systematic review of RCTs evaluating treatment of headache in pregnancy revealed only three studies. This paucity of data limits treatment, puts women at risk for worsening headache disorders, and delays diagnosis placing both the mother and fetus at risk for complications.

scholarly journals Febuxostat and Cardiovascular Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Cuenca ◽  
Javier Balda ◽  
Ana Palacio ◽  
Larry Young ◽  
Michael H. Pillinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Embase Database ◽  
Cvd Mortality

Background. Febuxostat is approved in the United States for the management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout. In November 2017 the FDA released a warning alert on a possible link between febuxostat and cardiovascular disease (CVD) reported in a single clinical trial. Objective. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis and assess the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients receiving febuxostat compared to a control group. Methods. We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE database for studies published up until March 2018. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared febuxostat to control groups including placebo and allopurinol. We calculated the pooled relative risk (RR) of MACE and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. Our search yielded 374 potentially relevant studies. Among the 25 RCTs included in the systematic review, 10 qualified for the meta-analysis. Among the 14,402 subjects included, the median age was 54 years (IQR 52-67) and 90% were male (IQR 82-96); 8602 received febuxostat, 5118 allopurinol, and 643 placebo. The pooled RR of MACE for febuxostat was 0.9; 95% CI 0.6-1.5 (p= 0.96) compared to the control. The RR of CV-related death for febuxostat was 1.29; 95% CI 1.01-1.66 (p=0.03). Conclusions. Compared with other SU-lowering treatments, febuxostat does not increase or decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease but may increase the risk of CVD death. More RCTs measuring cardiovascular safety as a primary outcome are needed to adequately evaluate the risk of CVD with febuxostat.

scholarly journals The effectiveness of a low-fat vegan diet for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Webb ◽  
Katie Lane
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Alternative Therapy ◽  
Cochrane Collaboration ◽  
Vegan Diet ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Low Fat ◽  
Positive Effects

AbstractGlobal diabetes prevalence is projected to rise from 382 million in 2013 to 592 million in 2030 with type 2 diabetes (T2D) accounting for 90–95% of cases(1,2). Approximately 4.7 million people in the UK had diabetes in 2018, this is estimated to rise to over 5 million by 2025(2) costing the NHS £15.1bn by 2035(3).Low-fat vegan (LFV) diets are associated with improvements in T2D biomarkers(4) however, to date no systematic review has evaluated the effectiveness of LFV diets in prevention and management of T2D. The aim of this study was to assess effects of LFV diets on T2D biomarkers in controlled trials for those with, or at risk of developing T2D.The review followed the PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews and used Cochrane Collaboration search strategies, which support the identification of randomised controlled trials (RCT's)(5). Searches were conducted and titles and abstracts screened for relevance by two independent review authors (AW or KEL). Studies that evaluated a LFV diet to reduce the risk of, or manage T2D using controlled trials were included with publication range from January 2003 to June 2018.Search criteria identified 130 articles, which reduced to 21 upon abstract and title screening. Further application of inclusion/exclusion criteria led to identification of six key studies. Four studies were RCT's, and two were cluster-controlled trials at corporate sites, one of which was randomised. In three of the studies participants were previously diagnosed with T2D, in two of the studies participants had a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and/or were previously diagnosed with T2D, and one study had participants with BMI between 28 and 40 kg/m2. Four studies had a control group (non-intervention) two of which had a conventional diabetes diet (American Dietetic Association(6)) as a comparison group. Mean study length was 28.3 weeks; ranging from 16–74 weeks. An intention-to-treat and medication adjusted analysis was carried out; significant effects for BMI, body weight, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, LDL, HDL and total cholesterol were reported in most of the studies.Results from this systematic review demonstrate that a LFV diet is an effective alternative therapy to improve T2D biomarkers in those with, or at elevated risk of developing the disease. The LFV diet showed consistent positive effects on T2D biomarkers. Its effects are comparable to conventional T2D diets and energy restrictive diets, despite absence of restrictions on energy intake or portion sizes.

scholarly journals Effect of Plyometric Training on Sport Performance in Adolescent Overhead Athletes: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
Leyla Eraslan ◽  
Birgit Castelein ◽  
Valentien Spanhove ◽  
Ceren Orhan ◽  
Irem Duzgun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Sprint Performance ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Training Intervention ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Plyometric Training ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Overhead Athletes ◽  
Mesh Terms

Context: Plyometric training has been shown to be beneficial in adolescent overhead athletes. However, existing research on the effects of plyometrics on sport performance has been limited. Objective: To systematically review the current literature to investigate whether plyometric training intervention improves upper- and lower-body sport performance. Data Sources: Two electronic databases (MEDLINE and Web of Science) were searched using specific Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms up to February 2019, and hand-searching was performed by looking to relevant studies that were cited in other studies. Study Selection: A total of 932 items were identified and were further assessed for the eligibility in the systematic review. For a study to be eligible, each of the following inclusion criteria had to be met: (1) participants were aged 13 to 18 years and selected from a sports or athletic population and the study (2) involved the evaluation of a plyometric training intervention with an aim to improve sports performance; (3) must have included a control intervention and/or control group; (4) included a quantitative objective measure of sport performance variables concerning throwing, jumping, running, and sprinting; and (5) was published in English. Study Design: Systematic review. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Data Extraction: A first screening was conducted based on title and abstract of the articles. In the second screening, the full text of the remaining articles was evaluated for the fulfillment of the inclusion criteria. Results: A total of 14 studies were included in this review. The methodological quality of the included studies ranged from low to moderate. There is moderate evidence that plyometric training intervention improves throwing and jumping performances. There is also preliminary evidence that plyometric training intervention improves sprint performance. Conclusion: The current evidence suggests that sport performance consisting of throwing capacity, jumping ability, and sprint performance significantly improved due to plyometric training interventions in adolescent overhead athletes.

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