scholarly journals Effectiveness of hydrotherapy as an adjunct treatment for the management of breast cancer related lymphoedema in women following breast cancer surgery: a systematic review

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor Bills ◽  
Matthew Delsar ◽  
Steven O'Donnell ◽  
Alexandra Rice ◽  
Cory Stone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Breast Cancer Surgery ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Adjunct Treatment ◽  
Upper Limb Function ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Cancer is a leading cause of death and disability around the world. Of all cancers, breast cancer commonly ranks amongst the top three. Surgical intervention for breast cancer is common and a possible side effect of this is breast cancer related lymphoedema (BCRL). Women with breast cancer related lymphoedema commonly have regional limb swelling and pain, which can negatively impact mental and social well-being as well as upper limb function. Hydrotherapy is therapeutic modality which may be used as an adjunct to self-management strategies after the intensive phase of lymphoedema management. Yet despite its popularity, recent research has questioned its effectiveness in clinical practice. Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of hydrotherapy as an adjunct treatment to usual care on arm volume and pain when compared with usual care alone for women with breast cancer related lymphoedema. Method: A comprehensive search of eight electronic databases, including Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, AMED, The Cochrane Library and PEDro was completed. Studies of adult women with secondary upper limb lymphoedema following breast cancer surgery, which measured lymphoedema volume, pain, upper limb and QOL outcomes were included. Methodological quality was assessed using a modified CASP tool for randomised controlled trials. The NHMRC FORM methodology was utilised to synthesise the evidence and provide an overall grade of recommendation. Results: Four randomised controlled trials and one controlled clinical trial were included in this systematic review. Critical appraisal of the included studies revealed overall methodological quality to be moderate. Hydrotherapy interventions duration varied between 8 to 12 weeks with some similarities between outcome measures assessed. Collectively, there is mixed evidence to support the positive impact of hydrotherapy as an adjunct treatment on reducing lymphoedema volume in the short-term and emerging evidence for upper limb function, pain and QOL. Conclusion: A small number of studies have investigated the effect of hydrotherapy as an adjunct treatment in the breast cancer related lymphoedema population. Hydrotherapy could be considered as an adjunct treatment for women with breast cancer related lymphoedema, although the evidence base is mixed. Hydrotherapy may have positive physiological as well psychosocial impacts, as it is delivered in a group setting. However, the current literature base is limited by small sample size, lack of standardised exercise parameters, inadequate baseline characteristic assessment and limited long-term follow-up.

scholarly journals Updated systematic review of exercise studies in breast cancer survivors: attention to the principles of exercise training

2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 504-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E Neil-Sztramko ◽  
Kerri M Winters-Stone ◽  
Kelcey A Bland ◽  
Kristin L Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Exercise Training ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Exercise Prescription ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Randomised Controlled

ObjectivesTo update our previous evaluation of the exercise interventions used in randomised controlled trials of breast cancer survivors in relation to (1) the application of the principles of exercise training in the exercise prescription; (2) the reporting of the components of the exercise prescription; and (3) the reporting of adherence of participants to the prescribed interventions.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesThe OVID Medline, Embase, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus electronic databases were searched from January 2010 to January 2017.Eligibility criteriaRandomised controlled trials of at least 4 weeks of aerobic and/or resistance exercise in women diagnosed with breast cancer, reporting on physical fitness or body composition outcomes.ResultsSpecificity was appropriately applied by 84%, progression by 29%, overload by 38% and initial values by 67% of newly identified studies. Reversibility was reported by 3% anddiminishing returns by 22% of newly identified studies. No studies reported all components of the exercise prescription in the methods, or adherence to the prescribed intervention in the results. Reporting of reversibility has increased from 2010, but no other improvements in reporting were noted from the previous review.Summary/ConclusionNo studies of exercise in women with breast cancer attended to all principles of exercise training, or reported all components of the exercise prescription in the methods, or adherence to the prescription in the results. Full reporting of the exercise prescribed and completed is essential for study replication in research and translating research findings into the community, and should be prioritised in future trials.

Adjunct treatment in snakebite envenoming: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 114 (11) ◽  
pp. 847-857
Author(s):  
Chaturaka Rodrigo ◽  
Ariaranee Gnanathasan
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Fresh Frozen Plasma ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Adjunct Therapy ◽  
Adjunct Treatment ◽  
Fresh Frozen ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Frozen Plasma

Abstract Adjunct therapy in snakebite may be lifesaving if administered appropriately or can be harmful if non-judicious use leads to avoidable delays in administering antivenom. This systematic review analyses the evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of adjunct treatment administered with antivenom. PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane library and CINAHL were searched for RCTs enrolling patients with snakebite envenoming where a treatment other than antivenom has been assessed for its efficacy within the last 25 y. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The interventions assessed were categorised as adjunct therapies (heparin or fresh frozen plasma) to reverse haemotoxicity (three studies), antibiotics to prevent local infections (three studies), steroids to reduce local swelling (one study), premedication (adrenaline, steroids and antihistamines, either alone or in combination) to reduce hypersensitivity reactions to antivenom (five studies) and other interventions (three studies). Apart from a beneficial effect of low-dose adrenaline (1:1000, 0.25 ml administered subcutaneously) in preventing antivenom-induced hypersensitivities (OR: 0.54, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.93, two RCTs, 354 participants, moderate certainty evidence) in Sri Lanka, evidence for any other adjunct therapy is either non-existent or needs confirmation by larger better designed trials.

scholarly journals Methodological quality of randomised controlled trials in burns care. A systematic review

Burns ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 956-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Danilla ◽  
Jason Wasiak ◽  
Susana Searle ◽  
Cristian Arriagada ◽  
Cesar Pedreros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Specialist nurse initiated interventions in breast cancer care: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (13-14) ◽  
pp. 2161-2180
Author(s):  
Shejila Chillakunnel Hussain Rawther ◽  
Mamatha Shivananda Pai ◽  
Donald J Fernandes ◽  
Stanley Mathew ◽  
Jyothi Chakrabarty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Breast Cancer Care ◽  
Specialist Nurse ◽  
Randomised Controlled

scholarly journals Status, reporting completeness and methodological quality of pilot randomised controlled trials in acupuncture: protocol for a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e052528
Author(s):  
Yajun Zhang ◽  
Hantong Hu ◽  
Xiaoyu Li ◽  
Jiali Lou ◽  
Xiaofen He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Biomedical Literature ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Publication Trends ◽  
Pilot Trials ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionTo date, there has been a lack of knowledge about the status, reporting completeness and methodological quality of pilot trials in the acupuncture field. Thus, this systematic review protocol aims to: (1) investigate publication trends and aspects of feasibility evaluated in acupuncture pilot trials; (2) identify the proportion of acupuncture pilot trials that lead to definitive trials and (3) assess the reporting completeness and methodological quality of pilot trials in acupuncture.Methods and analysisStudies of acupuncture pilot randomised controlled trials published from 2011 to 2021 will be retrieved in seven databases in January 2022, including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. The methodological quality and reporting completeness of all included studies will be assessed using the risk of bias 2.0 tool (RoB 2) and the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) extension to randomised pilot and feasibility trials, respectively. For the primary analysis, publication trends, aspects of feasibility and the proportion of pilot trials that lead to definitive trials will be analysed. A quantitative analysis of the methodological quality and reporting completeness of the included trials will be implemented by calculating the percentage of items reported in each domain of RoB 2 and CONSORT. The secondary analysis will adopt a regression analysis to identify factors associated with the reporting completeness.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this study. This study is planned to be submitted to a peer-reviewed academic journal.

scholarly journals Telerehabilitation Versus Standard Care for Improving Cognitive Function and Quality of Life for Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury: a Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Betts ◽  
Lana Feichter ◽  
Zoe Kleinig ◽  
Alice O'Connell-Debais ◽  
Henry Thai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Critical Appraisal ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomised Controlled

ABSTRACT Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most significant cause of death and severe disability following major trauma within Australia. Populations at risk include young adults aged 15 to 34, older adults, and military personnel. The main form of intervention following traumatic brain injury is rehabilitation, which places a large demand on the healthcare system. Telerehabilitation involves interventions delivered via telecommunication, which can improve accessibility and reduce this burden. There have been no systematic reviews conducted on the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in treating traumatic brain injury. Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of telerehabilitation for adults with traumatic brain injury. Methods: A systematic search of Medline, Embase, the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, The Cochrane Library, OTSeeker and Google Scholar was conducted. Studies were included with participants aged 18 to 64 with traumatic brain injury and receiving telerehabilitation interventions. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tools: Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist for randomised controlled trials, and McMaster Critical Review for Quantitative Studies for non-randomised studies. Results: Three randomised controlled trials, one pseudo-randomised controlled trial, one case-control trial and one pre-post case series were included in this systematic review. Critical appraisal of the included studies revealed overall methodological quality to be moderate. A range of interventions with differing parameters were used as part of telerehabilitation. Collectively, there is some consistent evidence to indicate that telerehabilitation may be equally effective as other forms of care in the delivery of cognitive and psychological interventions, in addressing memory and depressive symptoms for adults with mild to severe traumatic brain injury. However, it is unclear if it is superior to other forms of care. Conclusions: A small number of studies have investigated the effect of telerehabilitation for adults with traumatic brain injury. The current evidence base is limited due to lack of standardised intervention parameters, outcomes measures and robust sample size. Despite these limitations, telerehabilitation may offer a complementary model of care for adults with traumatic brain injury, especially in instances where traditional models of care may not be readily accessible (such as those in rural and remote areas).

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