Improving Reading Through Videogames and Digital Apps: A Systematic Review

Background: The use of electronic interventions to improve reading is becoming a common resource. This systematic review aims to describe the main characteristics of randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies that have used these tools to improve first-language reading, in order to highlight the features of the most reliable studies and guide future research.Methods: The whole procedure followed the PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered before starting the process (doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/CKM4N). Searches in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and an institutional reference aggregator (Unika) yielded 6,230 candidate articles. After duplicate removal, screening, and compliance of eligibility criteria, 55 studies were finally included.Results: They were research studies on improving first-language reading, both in children and adults, and including a control group. Thirty-three different electronic tools were employed, most of them in English, and studies were very diverse in sample size, length of intervention, and control tasks. Risk of bias was analyzed with the PEDro scale, and all studies had a medium or low risk. However, risk of bias due to conflicts of interest could not be evaluated in most studies, since they did not include a statement on this issue.Conclusion: Future research on this topic should include randomized intervention and control groups, with sample sizes over 65 per group, interventions longer than 15 h, and a proper disclosure of possible conflicts of interest.Systematic Review Registration: The whole procedure followed the PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered before starting the process in the Open Science Framework (doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/CKM4N).

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Effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines for induction of labour: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022499 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. e022499 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Collins Zamawe ◽

Carina King ◽

Hannah Maria Jennings ◽

Chrispin Mandiwa ◽

Edward Fottrell

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Herbal Medicines ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Induction Of Labour ◽

Quality Data ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Significant Difference

ObjectiveThe use of herbal medicines for induction of labour (IOL) is common globally and yet its effects are not well understood. We assessed the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines for IOL.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis of published literature.Data sourcesWe searched in MEDLINE, AMED and CINAHL in April 2017, updated in June 2018.Eligibility criteriaWe considered experimental and non-experimental studies that compared relevant pregnancy outcomes between users and non-user of herbal medicines for IOL.Data extraction and synthesisData were extracted by two reviewers using a standardised form. A random-effects model was used to synthesise effects sizes and heterogeneity was explored through I2statistic. The risk of bias was assessed using ‘John Hopkins Nursing School Critical Appraisal Tool’ and ‘Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool’.ResultsA total of 1421 papers were identified through the searches, but only 10 were retained after eligibility and risk of bias assessments. The users of herbal medicine for IOL were significantly more likely to give birth within 24 hours than non-users (Risk Ratio (RR) 4.48; 95% CI 1.75 to 11.44). No significant difference in the incidence of caesarean section (RR 1.19; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.86), assisted vaginal delivery (RR 0.73; 95% CI 0.47 to 1.14), haemorrhage (RR 0.84; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.60), meconium-stained liquor (RR 1.20; 95% CI 0.65 to 2.23) and admission to nursery (RR 1.08; 95% CI 0.49 to 2.38) was found between users and non-users of herbal medicines for IOL.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that herbal medicines for IOL are effective, but there is inconclusive evidence of safety due to lack of good quality data. Thus, the use of herbal medicines for IOL should be avoided until safety issues are clarified. More studies are recommended to establish the safety of herbal medicines.

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Mindfulness based interventions for depression and anxiety in Asian Population: A systematic review

Journal of Psychiatrists Association of Nepal ◽

10.3126/jpan.v7i1.22933 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 10-23

Author(s):

S. Thapaliya ◽

K.D. Upadhyaya ◽

R. Borschmann ◽

P.P. Kuppili

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Asian Population ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Short Term ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Term Efficacy

Introduction: Mindfulness based interventions (MBIs) have emerged as effective interventions for various psychiatric conditions including depression and anxiety. Asia being home to Buddhist tradition, it will be interesting to explore the trend and efficacy of MBIs in Asian population in Asian settings. The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review of mindfulness based interventions (MBIs) for management of depression and anxiety (disorders or symptoms) in Asian population. Material And Method: Two researchers independently searched for literature published between January 2007 to December 2018 in Medline, Google Scholar, PsychInfo and Cochrane library using the search terms - ‘Mindfulness/Vipassana’ combined with ‘meditation’, ‘intervention’ ‘therapy’, ‘depression', ‘anxiety’ ‘Asia’ etc. Further, publications were also identified from the references recited in the retrieved articles. After screening 185 articles and applying the eligibility criteria, 40 articles were finally selected for the systematic review. Results: Out of 40 selected articles, 33 articles were controlled trials and 7 had a pre-post test design without any control group. Most of the published studies have evaluated MBCT and MBSR for depressive and anxiety symptoms in different settings. Some of the studies have tested traditional Buddhist meditation and modified models. Overall, MBCT and MBSR seem to be efficacious over ‘routine treatment’ or ‘no treatment’ control for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms at the end of the treatment. Studies which have modified MBIs based on MBCT/MBSR models have also demonstrated their feasibility and short term efficacy in specific populations like medical professionals with evidence for short term efficacy. Conclusion: Overall, there is emerging evidence of MBIs for depression and anxiety across diverse settings in Asia. Future research should address methodological limitations of current research to strengthen the evidence.

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Mindfulness-based treatment for Bipolar Disorder: A systematic review of the literature

Europe’s Journal of Psychology ◽

10.5964/ejop.v13i3.1138 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 573-598 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Sanja Bojic ◽

Rodrigo Becerra

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Emotional Regulation ◽

Clinical Importance ◽

Present Review ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Treatment Gains ◽

And Control

Despite the increasing number of studies examining the effects of mindfulness interventions on symptoms associated with Bipolar Disorder (BD), the effectiveness of this type of interventions remains unclear. The aim of the present systematic review was to (i) critically review all available evidence on Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as a form of intervention for BD; (ii) discuss clinical implications of MBCT in treating patients with BD; and (iii) provide a direction for future research. The review presents findings from 13 studies (N = 429) that fulfilled the following selection criteria: (i) included BD patients; (ii) presented results separately for BD patients and control groups (where a control group was available); (iii) implemented MBCT intervention; (iv) were published in English; (v) were published in a peer reviewed journal; and (vi) reported results for adult participants. Although derived from a relatively small number of studies, results from the present review suggest that MBCT is a promising treatment in BD in conjunction with pharmacotherapy. MBCT in BD is associated with improvements in cognitive functioning and emotional regulation, reduction in symptoms of anxiety depression and mania symptoms (when participants had residual manic symptoms prior to MBCT). These, treatment gains were maintained at 12 month follow up when mindfulness was practiced for at least 3 days per week or booster sessions were included. Additionally, the present review outlined some limitations of the current literature on MBCT interventions in BD, including small study sample sizes, lack of active control groups and idiosyncratic modifications to the MBCT intervention across studies. Suggestions for future research included focusing on factors underlying treatment adherence and understanding possible adverse effects of MBCT, which could be of crucial clinical importance.

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Associations of childhood exposure to malaria with cognition and behaviour outcomes: a systematic review protocol

10.21203/rs.3.rs-19683/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

ANDREW SENTOOGO SSEMATA ◽

JACQUELLINE ANN NAKITENDE ◽

SIMON KIZITO ◽

ELIZABETH C WHIPPLE ◽

PAUL BANGIRANA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Malaria Infection ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Interrupted Time Series ◽

Bibliographic Databases ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background: Malaria is one of the major contributing risk factors for poor development of children living in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). However, little is known about the specific domains of cognition and behaviour that are impacted by malaria, the extent of these deficits, and the different types of the malaria spectrum that are associated with these deficits. The objective of this systematic review is to determine the association of the different type of malaria infection on cognition and behavioural outcomes among children living in LMICs. Methods and analysis: We will systematically search online bibliographic databases including MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL (via EBSCO), PsycINFO (via EBSCO), Embase and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) as well as Google Scholar and bibliographies of pertinent articles. We will include studies with a comparison group (e.g., clinical trials, cohort, observational, cross-sectional case–control and controlled before and after or interrupted–time–series studies) involving children under 18 years of age living in LMICs, as determined by World Bank Criteria, with either an active malaria infection or history of malaria. Included articles must also measure cognitive and/or behaviour outcomes determined by standardized psychological assessments (questionnaire-based scales and or neurocognitive assessments). Studies will be excluded if they are not in English, lack a control group, take place in a high-income country, or if a standardized instrument was not used. Two reviewers will independently review all articles to determine if they meet eligibility criteria. Any conflicts will be resolved after discussion with a third reviewer. When a list of included articles is finalized, two reviewers will extract data to populate and then cross check within an electronic table. Risk of bias and the strength of evidence and recommendations will be assessed independently using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria, and a final score will be given upon consensus. For sufficiently homogeneous data on measured outcomes in multiple studies, we will investigate the possibility of pooling data to perform a meta-analysis. Discussion: This systematic review will evaluate the evidence of the association of malaria on the cognitive and behavioural outcomes. Findings from this planned review will generate insight on the domains affected by the different forms malaria infection and may inform subsequent malaria interventions and future research in paediatric care.Systematic review registration: This systematic review has been registered under the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; registration number: CRD42020154777)

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Efficacy of Neurofeedback Interventions for Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Brain Injury: Systematic Review and Recommendations for Future Research

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617719001061 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 31-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jordan I. Ali ◽

Jeremy Viczko ◽

Colette M. Smart

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽

Clinical Intervention ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Funding Agencies ◽

Future Work

AbstractObjectives:Interest in neurofeedback therapies (NFTs) has grown exponentially in recent years, encouraged both by escalating public interest and the financial support of health care funding agencies. Given NFTs’ growing prevalence and anecdotally reported success in treating common effects of acquired brain injury (ABI), a systematic review of the efficacy of NFTs for the rehabilitation of ABI-related cognitive impairment is warranted.Methods:Eligible studies included adult samples (18+ years) with ABI, the use of neurofeedback technology for therapeutic purposes (as opposed to assessment), the inclusion of a meaningful control group/condition, and clear cognitive–neuropsychological outcomes. Initial automated search identified n = 86 candidate articles, however, only n = 4 studies met the stated eligibility criteria.Results:Results were inconsistent across studies and cognitive domains. Methodological and theoretical limitations precluded robust and coherent conclusions with respect to the cognitive rehabilitative properties of NFTs. We take the results of these systematic analyses as a reflection of the state of the literature at this time. These results offer a constructive platform to further discuss a number of methodological, theoretical, and ethical considerations relating to current and future NFT–ABI research and clinical intervention.Conclusions:Given the limited quantity and quality of the available research, there appears to be insufficient evidence to comment on the efficacy of NFTs within an ABI rehabilitation context at this time. It is imperative that future work increase the level of theoretical and methodological rigour if meaningful advancements are to be made understanding and evaluating NFT–ABI applications.

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The effect of pre-anaesthetic assessment clinic: a systematic review of randomised and non-randomised prospective controlled studies

10.1101/2021.06.04.21258364 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eirunn Kristoffersen ◽

Anne Opsal ◽

Tor Tveit ◽

Rigmor Berg ◽

Mariann Fossum

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Hospital Stay ◽

Quantitative Methods ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Length Of Hospital Stay ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Anaesthetic Assessment

ABSTRACT Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of pre-anaesthetic assessment clinics (PACs) implemented to improve quality and patient safety in perioperative care. Design: Systematic review. Data sources: The electronic databases CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCOhost), Medline, and Embase (OvidSP) were systematically searched from 1st April, 1996 to 4th February, 2021. Eligibility criteria: The main inclusion criterion was that the study, using empirical quantitative methods, addressed the effectiveness of PACs. Data extraction and synthesis: Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened in duplicate by two authors. Risk of bias assessment, using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for quasi-experimental studies, and data extraction were performed by one author and checked by the other author. Results were synthesised narratively owing to the heterogeneity of the included studies. Results: Seven prospective controlled studies were conducted. Most studies had a high risk of bias. Three studies reported a significant reduction in the length of the hospital stay, and two studies reported a significant reduction in cancellation of surgery for medical reasons when patients were seen in the PAC. In addition, the included studies presented mixed results regarding anxiety in patients. Conclusion: This systematic review demonstrated a reduction in the length of hospital stay and cancellation of surgery when the patients had been assessed in the PAC. There is a need for high-quality prospective studies to gain a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of PACs. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019137724

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Mouth-rinses and SARS-CoV-2 viral load in saliva: A living systematic review

10.1101/2021.03.23.21254214 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Akram Hernández-Vásquez ◽

Antonio Barrenechea-Pulache ◽

Daniel Comandé ◽

Diego Azañedo

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Viral Load ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Control Group ◽

Sterile Water ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Mouth Rinses ◽

Number Of Patients

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo conduct a living systematic review of the clinical evidence regarding the effect of different mouth-rinses on the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva of infected patients. The viral load in aerosols, the duration of the reduction in viral load, viral clearance, SARS-CoV-2 cellular infectivity, and salivary cytokine profiles were also evaluated.Materials and methodsThis study was reported using the PRISMA guidelines. An electronic search was conducted in seven databases and in preprint repositories. We included human clinical trials that evaluated the effect of mouth-rinses with antiseptic substances on the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva of children or adults that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021240561.ResultsFour studies matching eligibility criteria were selected for evaluation (n=32 participants). Study participants underwent oral rinses with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at 1 %, povidone–iodine (PI) at 0.5% or 1%, chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) at 0.2% or 0.12% or cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) at 0.075%. Only one study included a control group with sterile water. Three of the studies identified a significant reduction in viral load up to 3, 4, and 6 hours after the use of mouthwashes with PI, CHX, and CPC or PI vs. sterile water, respectively, while one study did not identify a significant reduction in viral load after the use of H2O2 rinses.ConclusionsAccording to the present systematic review, the effect of the use of mouth-rinses on SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the saliva of COVID-19 patients remains uncertain. This is mainly due to the limited number of patients included and a high risk of bias present in the studies analyzed. Evidence from well-designed randomized clinical trials is required for further and more objective evaluation of this effect.

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Efficacy of adaptive e-learning for health professionals and students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025252 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. e025252 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Guillaume Fontaine ◽

Sylvie Cossette ◽

Marc-André Maheu-Cadotte ◽

Tanya Mailhot ◽

Marie-France Deschênes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

Factual Knowledge ◽

Clinical Behaviour ◽

Environment Control ◽

E Learning

ObjectiveAlthough adaptive e-learning environments (AEEs) can provide personalised instruction to health professional and students, their efficacy remains unclear. Therefore, this review aimed to identify, appraise and synthesise the evidence regarding the efficacy of AEEs in improving knowledge, skills and clinical behaviour in health professionals and students.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesCINAHL, EMBASE, ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science from the first year of records to February 2019.Eligibility criteriaControlled studies that evaluated the effect of an AEE on knowledge, skills or clinical behaviour in health professionals or students.Screening, data extraction and synthesisTwo authors screened studies, extracted data, assessed risk of bias and coded quality of evidence independently. AEEs were reviewed with regard to their topic, theoretical framework and adaptivity process. Studies were included in the meta-analysis if they had a non-adaptive e-learning environment control group and had no missing data. Effect sizes (ES) were pooled using a random effects model.ResultsFrom a pool of 10 569 articles, we included 21 eligible studies enrolling 3684 health professionals and students. Clinical topics were mostly related to diagnostic testing, theoretical frameworks were varied and the adaptivity process was characterised by five subdomains: method, goals, timing, factors and types. The pooled ES was 0.70 for knowledge (95% CI −0.08 to 1.49; p.08) and 1.19 for skills (95% CI 0.59 to 1.79; p<0.00001). Risk of bias was generally high. Heterogeneity was large in all analyses.ConclusionsAEEs appear particularly effective in improving skills in health professionals and students. The adaptivity process within AEEs may be more beneficial for learning skills rather than factual knowledge, which generates less cognitive load. Future research should report more clearly on the design and adaptivity process of AEEs, and target higher-level outcomes, such as clinical behaviour.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017065585

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The effects of childhood exposure to malaria on cognition and behaviour. A systematic review protocol.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-19683/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

ANDREW SENTOOGO SSEMATA ◽

JACQUELLINE ANN NAKITENDE ◽

SIMON KIZITO ◽

ELIZABETH C WHIPPLE ◽

PAUL BANGIRANA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Malaria Infection ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Interrupted Time Series ◽

Bibliographic Databases ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background: Malaria is one of the major contributing risk factors for poor development of children living in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). However, little is known about the specific domains of cognition and behaviour that are impacted by malaria, the extent of these deficits, and the different types of the malaria spectrum that are associated with these deficits. The objective of this systematic review is to determine the effect of the different type of malaria infection on cognition and behaviour among children living in LMICs. Methods and analysis: We will systematically search online bibliographic databases including MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL (via EBSCO), PsycINFO (via EBSCO), EMBASE and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) as well as Google Scholar and bibliographies of pertinent articles. We will include studies with a comparison group (e.g., clinical trials, cohort, observational, cross-sectional case–control and controlled before and after or interrupted–time–series studies) involving children under 18 years of age living in LMICs, as determined by World Bank Criteria, with either an active malaria infection or history of malaria. Included articles must also measure cognitive and/or behaviour outcomes determined by standardized psychological assessments (questionnaire-based scales and or neurocognitive assessments). Studies will be excluded if they are not in English, lack a control group, take place in a high-income country, or if a standardized instrument was not used. Two reviewers will independently review all articles to determine if they meet eligibility criteria. Any conflicts will be resolved after discussion with a third reviewer. When a list of included articles is finalized, two reviewers will extract data to populate and then cross check within an electronic table. Risk of bias and the strength of evidence and recommendations will be assessed independently using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria, and a final score will be given upon consensus. For sufficiently homogeneous data on measured outcomes in multiple studies, we will investigate the possibility of pooling data to perform a meta-analysis. Discussion: This systematic review will evaluate the evidence of the effect of malaria on the cognitive and behavioural outcomes. Findings from this planned review will generate insight on the domains affected by the different forms malaria infection and may inform subsequent malaria interventions and future research in paediatric care.Systematic review registration: This systematic review has been registered under PROSPERO: CRD42020154777

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Clinimetric Analysis of Outcome Measures for Airway Clearance in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A Systematic Review

10.21203/rs.3.rs-585783/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gemma E Stanford ◽

Mandy Jones ◽

Susan C Charman ◽

Diana Bilton ◽

Omar S Usmani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cystic Fibrosis ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Future Research ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Validity Assessment ◽

Airway Clearance

Abstract Background Airway clearance techniques (ACTs) are integral to cystic fibrosis (CF) management. However, there is no consensus as to which outcome measures (OMs) are best for assessing ACT efficacy. Objectives: To summarise OMs that have been assessed for their clinimetric properties (including validity, feasibility, reliability & reproducibility) within the context of ACT research. MethodsEligibility Criteria - Any parallel or cross-over randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigating outcome measures for ACT in the CF population. Information sources: Five medical databases; clinicaltrials.gov; abstracts from international CF conferences. Risk of Bias - The authors planned to independently assess study quality and risk of bias using the COSMIN risk of bias checklist with external validity assessment based upon study details (participants and study intervention).Synthesis of Results – Two review authors (GS and MJ) independently screened search results against inclusion criteria, further data extraction was planned but not required.ResultsIncluded studies - No completed RCTs from the 187 studies identified met inclusion criteria for the primary or post-hoc secondary objective. Two ongoing trials were identified.DiscussionLimitations of evidence: The search strategy may have missed some lesser-known terms for ACT or manuscripts reporting clinimetric properties solely within text. Studies validating outcome measures for use in other aspects of CF, which may be relevant to ACT, are not included.Interpretation - High-quality RCTs are urgently needed to investigate & validate the clinimetric properties of OMs used to assess ACT efficacy. With the changing demographics of CF combined with the introduction of CFTR modulator therapies, an accurate assessment of the current benefit of ACT or the effect of ACT withdrawal is a high priority for clinical practice and future research and OMs which have been validated for this purpose are essential.OtherFunding: NIHR/HEE Clinical Doctoral Fellowship grant for GS (reference CDRF-2014-05-055).Systematic review registration number - PROSPERO no.CRD42020206033

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