best evidence synthesis
Recently Published Documents


TOTAL DOCUMENTS

188
(FIVE YEARS 74)

H-INDEX

32
(FIVE YEARS 4)

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreia Dias Rodrigues ◽  
Ana Cruz-Ferreira ◽  
José Marmeleira ◽  
Guida Veiga

Objective:A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of body-oriented interventions (BOI) in educational contexts, showing positive influences on social-emotional competence. Nevertheless, there is a lack of systematization of the evidence regarding preschool years. This is a two-part systematic review. In this first part, we aim to examine the effects of BOI on preschoolers' social-emotional competence outcomes.Data Sources:Searches were conducted in Pubmed, Scopus, PsycInfo, ERIC, Web of Science, Portal Regional da BVS and CINAHL.Eligibility Criteria:English, French and Portuguese language articles published between January 2000 and October 2020, that evaluated the effects of BOI implemented in educational contexts on social-emotional competence of preschool children. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) or quasi-RCT were included.Data Extraction and Synthesis:Two reviewers independently completed data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment. The level of scientific evidence was measured through the Best Evidence Synthesis.Results:Nineteen studies were included. There was strong evidence that BOI do not improve anger/aggression, delay of gratification and altruism. Nevertheless, there was moderate evidence that BOI effectively improve other social-emotional outcomes, such as empathy, social interaction, social independence, general internalizing behaviors, and general externalizing behaviors. The lack of scientific evidence was compromised by the methodological quality of the studies.Conclusion:BOI effectively improve specific social-emotional competences of preschool children.Systematic Review Registration:PROSPERO, identifier CRD42020172248.


BMJ Open ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. e052270
Author(s):  
Chuan-Yang Liu ◽  
Jian-Feng Tu ◽  
Myeong Soo Lee ◽  
Ling-Yu Qi ◽  
Fang-Ting Yu ◽  
...  

IntroductionKnee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the leading causes of disability. The effectiveness of acupuncture for treating KOA remains controversial. This protocol describes the method of a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for treating KOA.Methods and analysisFour English databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases and Web of Science) and four Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, and Wanfang) will be searched from the database inception to 1 September 2021. All randomised controlled trials related to acupuncture for KOA will be included. Extracted data will include publication details, basic information, demographic data, intervention details and patient outcomes. The primary outcome will be pain intensity. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias. Article selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment will be performed in duplicate by two independent reviewers. If the meta-analysis is precluded, we will conduct a descriptive synthesis using a best-evidence synthesis approach. The strength of recommendations and quality of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation working group methodology.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required because individual patient data are not included. This protocol was registered in the international Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews on 25 February 2021. The systematic review and meta-analysis will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The findings will also be disseminated through conference presentations.Trial registration numberCRD42021232177.


Author(s):  
Francis Q. S. Dzakpasu ◽  
Alison Carver ◽  
Christian J. Brakenridge ◽  
Flavia Cicuttini ◽  
Donna M. Urquhart ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Sedentary behaviour (SB; time spent sitting) is associated with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) conditions; however, no prior systematic review has examined these associations according to SB domains. We synthesised evidence on occupational and non-occupational SB and MSP conditions. Methods Guided by a PRISMA protocol, eight databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and AMED) and three grey literature sources (Google Scholar, WorldChat, and Trove) were searched (January 1, 2000, to March 17, 2021) for original quantitative studies of adults ≥ 18 years. Clinical-condition studies were excluded. Studies’ risk of bias was assessed using the QualSyst checklist. For meta-analyses, random effect inverse-variance pooled effect size was estimated; otherwise, best-evidence synthesis was used for narrative review. Results Of 178 potentially-eligible studies, 79 were included [24 general population; 55 occupational (incuding15 experimental/intervention)]; 56 studies were of high quality, with scores > 0.75. Data for 26 were meta-synthesised. For cross-sectional studies of non-occupational SB, meta-analysis showed full-day SB to be associated with low back pain [LBP – OR = 1.19(1.03 – 1.38)]. Narrative synthesis found full-day SB associations with knee pain, arthritis, and general MSP, but the evidence was insufficient on associations with neck/shoulder pain, hip pain, and upper extremities pain. Evidence of prospective associations of full-day SB with MSP conditions was insufficient. Also, there was insufficient evidence on both cross-sectional and prospective associations between leisure-time SB and MSP conditions. For occupational SB, cross-sectional studies meta-analysed indicated associations of self-reported workplace sitting with LBP [OR = 1.47(1.12 – 1.92)] and neck/shoulder pain [OR = 1.73(1.46 – 2.03)], but not with extremities pain [OR = 1.17(0.65 – 2.11)]. Best-evidence synthesis identified inconsistent findings on cross-sectional association and a probable negative prospective association of device-measured workplace sitting with LBP-intensity in tradespeople. There was cross-sectional evidence on the association of computer time with neck/shoulder pain, but insufficient evidence for LBP and general MSP. Experimental/intervention evidence indicated reduced LBP, neck/shoulder pain, and general MSP with reducing workplace sitting. Conclusions We found cross-sectional associations of occupational and non-occupational SB with MSP conditions, with occupational SB associations being occupation dependent, however, reverse causality bias cannot be ruled out. While prospective evidence was inconclusive, reducing workplace sitting was associated with reduced MSP conditions. Future studies should emphasise prospective analyses and examining potential interactions with chronic diseases. Protocol registration PROSPERO ID #CRD42020166412 (Amended to limit the scope)


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Milan Houben ◽  
Sabrina Chettouf ◽  
Ysbrand Van Der Werf ◽  
John Stins

Background: Unilateral neglect (UN) is a common and disabling disorder after stroke. UN is a strong and negative predictor of functional rehabilitative outcome. Non-invasive brain stimulation, such as theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TBS), is a promising rehabilitation technique for treating stroke-induced UN. Objective: To systematically review the available literature, researching whether TBS of the contra-lesional hemisphere is more effective than standard rehabilitation in improving symptoms of UN in patients with right hemisphere stroke. Review methods: A systematic review was conducted to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were relevant to the objective of this review. PubMed, Ovid and Cochrane Library electronic databases were comprehensively searched from inception up to February 2021. Of the included studies, methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale, whereafter a best evidence synthesis (BES) was conducted to summarize the results. Results: Nine RCTs investigating the effects of TBS on stroke-induced UN symptoms were included in this review. Seven studies assessing continuous TBS (cTBS) found significantly greater amelioration of UN symptoms in the TBS intervention group when compared to the control group; one study assessing cTBS found no such significant difference. One study assessing intermittent TBS (iTBS) found significant between-group differences in favor of the intervention. The BES yielded strong evidence in favor of cTBS, and limited evidence in favor of iTBS. Conclusions: The included studies in the present review allow the conclusion that TBS can have favorable effects on UN recovery in stroke patients. Its clinical use is recommended in conjunction with cognitive rehabilitation and occupational or physical rehabilitation as needed. However, many aspects for optimal usage of TBS therapy in clinical settings, such as exact TBS protocols, number of sessions, and treatment duration, are not clear.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Scheibein ◽  
Martina Gooney ◽  
Adrian Jones ◽  
Evan Matthews ◽  
Kevin McGirr ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Smoking and smoking-related disease is endemic amongst many marginalised populations such as people experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs, people living with HIV, sex workers and members of the LGBTQ+, Indigenous, Traveller and migrant communities. Alternative Nicotine Delivery Systems (ANDS)-based interventions including those using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) show promise in supporting people to reduce their smoking. However, little is known about ANDS-based smoking reduction interventions with marginalised populations. This systematic review provides a best evidence synthesis of ANDS-based smoking reduction interventions to address this gap.Methods:A systematic review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020158832) and literature review conducted through MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, OVID SP, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. The primary outcomes of cigarette smoking, and biochemical validation of abstinence were reported. Secondary outcomes reported included physical health, mental health and other outcomes.Results: Twenty-Nine studies were included in this review. Thirteen of the included studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (n= 2828) and 16 studies were quasi controlled studies (n=1172). The sample size across the studies ranged from 9 to 775 participants. The mean reported age of participants ranged from 32.4 to 56.9 years old with an overall mean age of 39.55. A minority of study participants identified as female (33.43%; with two studies not reporting gender). A range of ANDS-interventions were found to be effective in reducing smoking amongst a range of marginalised groups. However, the overall quality of both the controlled and quasi experimental studies, as evaluated using the JBI Appraisal Tool, was found to be low.Conclusions: Studies are often evaluated as homogenous interventions although they are frequently a group of interventions and lack power analysis of the effects of individual components of the intervention effect. Several studies suggest potential mental health benefits consequent of ANDS-based intervention, though this effect is poorly explored. There is a current lack of RCTs related to ANDS-based smoking related interventions with people experiencing homelessness. Similarly, there is a lack of properly controlled RCTs exploring the use of ENDS with marginalised populations. Future studies should aim to address these deficits.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Elias Bibri

AbstractAs materializations of trends toward developing and implementing urban socio-technical and enviro-economic experiments for transition, eco-cities have recently received strong government and institutional support in many countries around the world due to their ability to function as an innovative strategic niche where to test and introduce various  reforms. There are many models of the eco-city based mainly on either following the principles of urban ecology or combining the strategies of sustainable cities and the solutions of smart cities. The most prominent among these models are sustainable integrated districts and data-driven smart eco-cities. The latter model represents the unprecedented transformative changes the eco-city is currently undergoing in light of the recent paradigm shift in science and technology brought on by big data science and analytics.  This is motivated by the growing need to tackle the problematicity surrounding eco-cities in terms of their planning, development, and governance approaches and practices. Employing a combination of both best-evidence synthesis and narrative approaches, this paper provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art and thematic literature review on sustainable integrated districts and data-driven smart eco-cities. The latter new area is a significant gap in and of itself that this paper seeks to fill together with to what extent the integration of eco-urbanism and smart urbanism is addressed in the era of big data, what driving factors are behind it, and what forms and directions it takes. This study reveals that eco-city district developments are increasingly embracing compact city strategies and becoming a common expansion route for growing cities to achieve urban ecology or urban sustainability. It also shows that the new eco-city projects are increasingly capitalizing on data-driven smart technologies to implement environmental, economic, and social reforms. This is being accomplished by combining the strengths of eco-cities and smart cities and harnessing the synergies of their strategies and solutions in ways that enable eco-cities to improve their performance with respect to sustainability as to its tripartite composition. This in turn means that big data technologies will change eco-urbanism in fundamental and irreversible ways in terms of how eco-cities will be monitored, understood, analyzed, planned, designed, and governed. However, smart urbanism poses significant risks and drawbacks that need to be addressed and overcome in order to achieve the desired outcomes of ecological sustainability in its broader sense. One of the key critical questions raised in this regard pertains to the very potentiality of the technocratic governance of data-driven smart eco-cities and the associated negative implications and hidden pitfalls. In addition, by shedding light on the increasing adoption and uptake of big data technologies in eco-urbanism, this study seeks to assist policymakers and planners in assessing the pros and cons of smart urbanism when effectuating ecologically sustainable urban transformations in the era of big data, as well as to stimulate prospective research and further critical debates on this topic.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Michael Alan Taylor

<p>This thesis draws on qualitative data gathered in focus group discussions, and interviews with ten teachers and three academics to examine social science teachers' critical engagement with Effective Pedagogy in the Social Sciences /Tikanga-a-iwi Best Evidence Synthesis (Aitken & Sinnema, 2008). To assess teachers' critical engagement with the Social Science BES, the thesis develops a modified model designed to encourage critical thinking. The methodological approach involved recording two phases of self-directed teacher discussion before and after the introduction of the modified critical thinking model. The findings suggest that the model supported teachers in the short term, especially those participants for whom critical thinking about research evidence was a novelty. The model had little impact, however, for teachers with more critical thinking skills. A lack of accountability, entrenched teacher identity, and socio-centric dialogue were identified as barriers to the teachers' critical engagement with the Social Sciences BES. Further findings provide insight into how over-assimilation and inattention to the complexity of research evidence risk undermining the integrity of teacher inquiry. The thesis concludes with a discussion about the difficulty of teachers critically engaging with the Social Sciences BES and offers recommendations for different levels of the education system that might help facilitate critical engagement with Social Sciences BES research.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Michael Alan Taylor

<p>This thesis draws on qualitative data gathered in focus group discussions, and interviews with ten teachers and three academics to examine social science teachers' critical engagement with Effective Pedagogy in the Social Sciences /Tikanga-a-iwi Best Evidence Synthesis (Aitken & Sinnema, 2008). To assess teachers' critical engagement with the Social Science BES, the thesis develops a modified model designed to encourage critical thinking. The methodological approach involved recording two phases of self-directed teacher discussion before and after the introduction of the modified critical thinking model. The findings suggest that the model supported teachers in the short term, especially those participants for whom critical thinking about research evidence was a novelty. The model had little impact, however, for teachers with more critical thinking skills. A lack of accountability, entrenched teacher identity, and socio-centric dialogue were identified as barriers to the teachers' critical engagement with the Social Sciences BES. Further findings provide insight into how over-assimilation and inattention to the complexity of research evidence risk undermining the integrity of teacher inquiry. The thesis concludes with a discussion about the difficulty of teachers critically engaging with the Social Sciences BES and offers recommendations for different levels of the education system that might help facilitate critical engagement with Social Sciences BES research.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lionel Chia ◽  
Danilo De Oliveira Silva ◽  
Marnee McKay ◽  
Justin Sullivan ◽  
Fabio Mıcolis de Azevedo ◽  
...  

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. e054125
Author(s):  
Emma C West ◽  
Lana J Williams ◽  
Kayla B Corney ◽  
Julie A Pasco

IntroductionSarcopenia is a skeletal muscle disorder characterised by a progressive decline in muscle mass and function (strength and performance). Sarcopenia is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes and has recently been linked to neurological and psychiatric disorders, including dementia and depression. Whether sarcopenia is related to other common psychiatric illnesses, such as anxiety, is unclear. We aim to systematically identify and review the extant literature regarding the association between sarcopenia and anxiety symptomatology and/or disorders (anxiety) in adults.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a systematic search across four online databases (CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE Complete and PsycINFO) from inception to September 2021. Two reviewers will independently confirm study selection and assess methodological quality of included studies. If possible, a meta-analysis will be performed to determine pooled OR for the relationship between sarcopenia and anxiety. If meta-analysis is not possible due to methodological heterogeneity a ‘best evidence synthesis’ will be performed.Ethics and disseminationThis review will use published data only, thus, ethical approval will not be required. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020209420.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document