Articles

Communication strategies for rare cancers: a systematic review protocol

Rare cancers comprise almost a quarter of all cancers in Europe, and patients generally have poorer outcomes than those suffering from more common cancers. This is attributed in part to a general lack of knowl...

Authors: Catherine Bell, Katie Kerr, Kerry Moore, Charlene McShane, Lesley Anderson, Amy Jayne McKnight and Helen McAneney

Effects of aerobic exercise on pain and disability in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain: a systematic review protocol

Aerobic exercise programs have been used for various health conditions, including musculoskeletal disorders. However, the literature is still limited regarding the effect of aerobic exercise on pain and disabi...

Authors: Irlei dos Santos, Adriana Claudia Lunardi, Naiane Teixeira Bastos de Oliveira, Matheus Oliveira de Almeida and Leonardo Oliveira Pena Costa

Interventions for improved diabetes control and self-management among those experiencing homelessness: protocol for a mixed methods scoping review

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that requires patients to be actively engaged in intensive self-management to achieve optimal clinical outcomes. Unfortunately, individuals who are experiencing homeless...

Authors: David J. T. Campbell, Rachel B. Campbell, Carolyn Ziegler, Kerry A. McBrien, Stephen W. Hwang and Gillian L. Booth

Direct oral anticoagulants in treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis: a systematic review protocol

Cerebral venous thrombosis causes disability from venous infarct and hemorrhage and potential mortality. Anticoagulation improves survival and disability outcomes, yet direct oral anticoagulants are currently ...

Authors: Gauruv Bose, Justin Graveline, Vignan Yogendrakumar, Dean Fergusson and Dar Dowlatshahi

Communication strategies in the prevention of type 2 and gestational diabetes in vulnerable groups: protocol for a scoping review

The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus is nearly 9%, with an upward trend in type 2 and gestational diabetes mellitus (T2DM/GDM). Evidence shows that vulnerable groups are affected disproportionally. There...

Authors: Jessica Breuing, Christine Graf, Annika Lena Neuhaus, Simone Heß, Lena Lütkemeier, Fabiola Haas, Mark Spiller and Dawid Pieper

Understanding patient engagement in health system decision-making: a co-designed scoping review

With healthcare striving to shift to a more person-centered delivery model, patient and family involvement must have a bigger role in shaping this. While many initiatives involving patients and family members ...

Authors: Tamara L. McCarron, Karen Moffat, Gloria Wilkinson, Sandra Zelinsky, Jamie M. Boyd, Deborah White, Derek Hassay, Diane L. Lorenzetti, Nancy J. Marlett and Thomas Noseworthy

Individual patient data network meta-analysis using either restricted mean survival time difference or hazard ratios: is there a difference? A case study on locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinomas

This study aimed at applying the restricted mean survival time difference (rmstD) as an absolute outcome measure in a network meta-analysis and comparing the results with those obtained using hazard ratios (HR...

Authors: C. Petit, P. Blanchard, JP. Pignon and B. Lueza

Influence of adjuvant antibiotics on fistula formation following incision and drainage of anorectal abscesses: a systematic review protocol

Development of fistula-in-ano following incision and drainage (I&D) of anorectal abscesses occurs in over 30% of patients. It is associated with significant patient morbidity and societal cost. The use of anti...

Authors: Laura Baker, Lara Williams, Remington Winter, Caitlin Cahill, Alexandra Davis and Dean Fergusson

Searching for health equity: validation of a search filter for ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in transport

Efforts to improve health equity should be informed by the best available evidence. However, equity-related research is inconsistently indexed, and uses a variety of terms to describe key concepts, making it d...

Authors: Jamie Hosking, Alexandra Macmillan, Rhys Jones, Shanthi Ameratunga and Alistair Woodward

Differential methylation in rare ophthalmic disorders: a systematic review protocol

Rare ophthalmic conditions often cause degenerative vision loss which leads to loss of independence, ability to work and ultimately quality life. Differential methylation is an epigenomic marker that is a feat...

Authors: Katie Kerr, Helen McAneney and Amy Jayne McKnight

The impact of income support systems on healthcare quality and functional capacity in workers with low back pain: a realist review protocol

Low back pain is the greatest contributor to the global burden of disease and can result in work disability. Previous literature has examined the influence of personal factors, the healthcare system, workplace...

Authors: Michael Di Donato, Ross Iles, Tyler Lane and Alex Collie

Patient and family-initiated escalation of care: a qualitative systematic review protocol

Despite the introduction of rapid response systems and early warning scores, clinical deterioration that is not recognised or responded to early enough prevails in acute care areas. One intervention that aims ...

Authors: Aidín McKinney, Donna Fitzsimons, Bronagh Blackwood and Jennifer McGaughey

Risk of bias judgements and strength of conclusions in meta-evidence from the Cochrane Colorectal Cancer Group

The Cochrane Collaboration records risk of bias (ROB) judgements on the original studies it analyses. The aim of this review is to perform an audit of all literature produced by the Cochrane Colorectal Cancer ...

Authors: John Delaney, Rebecca Cui and Alexander Engel

Seeking adverse effects in systematic reviews of orthodontic interventions: protocol for a cross-sectional study

Before implementing healthcare interventions, clinicians need to weigh the beneficial and adverse effects of interventions. However, a large body of evidence has demonstrated that seeking and reporting of adve...

Authors: Pauline A. J. Steegmans, Shandra Bipat and Reint A. Meursinge Reynders

Association between harm reduction strategies and healthcare utilization in patients on long-term prescribed opioid therapy presenting to acute healthcare settings: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Opioids are routinely used to treat a variety of chronic conditions associated with pain. However, they are a class of medications with a significant potential for adverse health effects, with and without misu...

Authors: Jean Deschamps, James Gilbertson, Sebastian Straube, Kathryn Dong, Frank P. MacMaster, Christina Korownyk, Lori Montgomery, Ryan Mahaffey, James Downar, Hance Clarke, John Muscedere, Katherine Rittenbach, Robin Featherstone, Meghan Sebastianski, Ben Vandermeer, Deborah Lynam…

Predicting repeated self-harm or suicide in adolescents and young adults using risk assessment scales/tools: a systematic review protocol

Self-harm and suicide have been identified as serious public health problems in children, adolescents, and young people across the world. Suicide is a major cause of mortality in this population and is commonl...

Authors: Isobel Marion Harris, Sophie Beese and David Moore

Addressing preconception behaviour change through mobile phone apps: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Many of the adverse outcomes experienced by mothers and babies are directly related to the health of the woman prior to pregnancy. This preconception period is a unique window of opportunity when women are oft...

Authors: Loretta M. Musgrave, Caroline S. E. Homer, Nathalie V. Kizirian and Adrienne Gordon

Protocol for a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis of clinical outcomes following accelerated versus conventional corneal collagen cross-linking for corneal ectasia

Collagen cross-linking (CXL) is an evolving procedure that enhances the biomechanical rigidity of the cornea and can slow or halt ectatic disease. CXL requires delivery of 5.4 J/cm² of ultraviolet A (UVA) radiati...

Authors: Siddharth Nath, Carl Shen, Alex Koziarz and Laura Banfield

Interventions to improve emergency department use for mental health reasons: protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review

Healthcare resources are limited and unnecessary, and inappropriate emergency department use is now a highly visible healthcare priority. Individuals visiting the emergency department for mental health-related...

Authors: Amanda Digel Vandyk, Mark Kaluzienski, Catherine Goldie, Yehudis Stokes, Amanda Ross-White, Jeremy Kronick, Matthew Gilmour, Colleen MacPhee and Ian D. Graham

Discharge communication practices in pediatric emergency care: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

The majority of children receiving care in the emergency department (ED) are discharged home, making discharge communication a key component of quality emergency care. Parents must have the knowledge and skill...

Authors: Janet A. Curran, Allyson J. Gallant, Roger Zemek, Amanda S. Newton, Mona Jabbour, Jill Chorney, Andrea Murphy, Lisa Hartling, Kate MacWilliams, Amy Plint, Shannon MacPhee, Andrea Bishop and Samuel G. Campbell

Protocol for a systematic review of time to antibiotics (TTA) in patients with fever and neutropenia during chemotherapy for cancer (FN) and interventions aiming to reduce TTA

Fever and neutropenia (FN) is a common complication of chemotherapy for cancer. Prompt empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy in FN is typically considered standard of care, but the definition of prompt is ...

Authors: Christa Koenig, Jess Morgan, Roland A. Ammann, Lillian Sung and Bob Phillips

Well siblings’ experiences of living with a child following a traumatic brain injury: a systematic review protocol

The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize the available evidence identified through a systematic search on well siblings’ experiences of living with a child following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). B...

Authors: Katie Hill and Maria Brenner

The association between diabetes and age at the onset of menopause: a systematic review protocol

Age at the onset of menopause is the most important determinant of women’s future health outcomes. While the basic mechanisms contributing to the onset of menopause are still not fully understood, age at menop...

Authors: Mansoureh Yazdkhasti, Zahra Mehdizadeh Tourzani, Nasibeh Roozbeh, Vajiheh Hasanpour, Sara Esmaelzadeh Saeieh and Fatemeh Abdi

Interventions for reducing and/or controlling domestic violence among pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Domestic violence (DV) during pregnancy is recognized as a global health problem associated with serious health consequences for both the mother and her baby. Several interventions aimed at addressing DV aroun...

Authors: Diksha Sapkota, Kathleen Baird, Amornrat Saito and Debra Anderson

Patient prioritization tools and their effectiveness in non-emergency healthcare services: a systematic review protocol

Waiting lists should be managed as fairly as possible to ensure that patients with greater or more urgent needs receive services first. Patient prioritization refers to the process of ranking referrals in a ce...

Authors: Julien Déry, Angel Ruiz, François Routhier, Marie-Pierre Gagnon, André Côté, Daoud Ait-Kadi, Valérie Bélanger, Simon Deslauriers and Marie-Eve Lamontagne

Feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of young people-specific, integrated out-of-hospital services: a protocol for a systematic review

The need for specific services for young people is being widely recognized to address their unique and complex health needs. Growing evidence in integrated health services shows promise in improving the effici...

Authors: Anuja Pandey, Aswathikutty Gireesh and Russell Viner

Trends in maternal and neonatal mortality in South Africa: a systematic review

Measuring and monitoring progress towards Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 5 required valid and reliable estimates of maternal and child mortality. In South Africa, there are conflicting reports on the...

Authors: Damian J. Damian, Bernard Njau, Ester Lisasi, Sia E. Msuya and Andrew Boulle

Cost-effectiveness of cannabinoids for pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy: protocol for a systematic review of economic evaluations

Drug-resistant epilepsy negatively impacts the quality of life and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and high costs to the healthcare system. Cannabis-based treatments may be effective in re...

Authors: Jesse Elliott, Bláthnaid McCoy, Tammy Clifford, Beth K. Potter, Becky Skidmore, George A. Wells and Doug Coyle

Comparing options for women seeking permanent contraception in high-resource countries: a protocol for a systematic review

For women seeking permanent contraception, there are a variety of options available including surgical techniques such as tubal ligation or bilateral salpingectomy, in-clinic procedures such as hysteroscopic t...

Authors: Rebecca Gormley, Brian Vickers and Wendy V. Norman

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and mortality risk in patients with liver cirrhosis: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Liver cirrhosis represents a substantial global burden in terms of morbidity and mortality. Observational studies have reported an increased risk of death with low circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration...

Authors: Désirée Völker, Frank Grünhage, Stefan Wagenpfeil, Frank Lammert and Caroline S. Stokes

Prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt and completed suicide in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Suicide is an emergency psychiatric problem that needs an urgent intervention. Ethiopia, as a nation, has been experiencing high burden of suicide. Cultural taboo, stigma, and criticism associated with suicida...

Authors: Berhanu Boru Bifftu, Berihun Assefa Dachew, Bewket Tadesse Tiruneh and Yonas Deressa Guracho

Network meta-analysis of randomised trials of pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, exercise and collaborative care interventions for depressive symptoms in patients with coronary artery disease: hybrid systematic review of systematic reviews protocol

Depression is common in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and is associated with poorer outcomes and higher costs. Several randomised controlled trials (RCTs) targeting depression, of various modalit...

Authors: Frank Doyle, Kenneth Freedland, Robert Carney, Peter de Jonge, Chris Dickens, Susanne Pedersen, Jan Sorensen and Martin Dempster

Editorial: Systematic review automation thematic series

Authors: Joseph Lau

Traditional knowledge-based lifestyle interventions in the prevention of obesity and type 2 diabetes in Indigenous children in Canada: a systematic review protocol

Approximately 50% of all youth-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Canada occurs in Indigenous children. In adults, cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in First Nations commun...

Authors: Rebecca Crawford, E. Danielle Sims, Kuan-Wen Wang, Michael Youssef, Ajantha Nadarajah, Angelica Rivas, Laura Banfield, Lehana Thabane and M. Constantine Samaan

Effects of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive adults on new HIV infections among young women: a systematic review protocol

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has struck regions, countries, and populations in different ways. With the introduction of antiretroviral drugs, people living with HIV (PLHIV) have a much better prognosis, even though t...

Authors: Trust Chibawara, Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Marcel Kitenge and Peter Nyasulu

Effects of training and support programs for leaders of illness-based support groups: commentary and updated evidence

Peer-led support groups play an important role in supporting people with chronic diseases. They may be particularly important for people with rare diseases who typically do not have access to professional supp...

Authors: Kimberly A. Turner, Danielle B. Rice, Andrea Carboni-Jiménez, Jill Boruff and Brett D. Thombs

Social marketing including financial incentive programs at worksite cafeterias for preventing obesity: a systematic review

As with food-taxation strategies, such interventions as discounted healthy menus, point-of-purchase advertisements, and sugar-free beverages for employees at worksites could help prevent obesity. This study as...

Authors: Kimi Sawada, Koji Wada, Sadequa Shahrook, Erika Ota, Yukari Takemi and Rintaro Mori

Interventions on children’s and adolescents’ physical activity and sedentary behaviour: protocol for a systematic review from a sex/gender perspective

Low levels of physical activity (PA) and high levels of sedentary behaviour (SB) have been observed in young people. Both behaviours are detrimental for health with patterns tending to continue into adulthood....

Authors: Yolanda Demetriou, Catherina Vondung, Jens Bucksch, Annegret Schlund, Carolin Schulze, Guido Knapp, Stephanie E. Coen, Lorri Puil, Susan P. Phillips and Anne K. Reimers

Challenges and support for quality of life of youths living with HIV/AIDS in schools and larger community in East Africa: a systematic review

Youths living with HIV/AIDS (YLWHA) experience innumerable challenges within schools and the larger community. Nonetheless, these environments are potential sources of support for such youths. This review prov...

Authors: Emmanuel Kimera, Sofie Vindevogel, Jessica De Maeyer, Didier Reynaert, Anne-Mie Engelen, Fred Nuwaha, John Rubaihayo and Johan Bilsen

WOMEN's Knowledge of Obstetric Danger signs in Ethiopia (WOMEN's KODE):a systematic review and meta-analysis

According to the 2015 World Health Organization report, globally, an estimated 10.7 million mothers died from 1990 to 2015 due to obstetric complications. This report showed that almost all global maternal dea...

Authors: Ayele Geleto, Catherine Chojenta, Abdulbasit Musa and Deborah Loxton

Evaluation of the effect of insulin sensitivity-enhancing lifestyle- and dietary-related adjuncts on antidepressant treatment response: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is known to be associated with insulin resistance (IR). Insulin resistance worsens the symptoms of depression and reduces the effectiveness of antide...

Authors: Olaitan J. Jeremiah, Gráinne Cousins, Finbarr P. Leacy, Brian P. Kirby and Benedict K. Ryan

Screening for periodontal diseases by non-dental health professionals: a protocol for a systematic review and overview of reviews

Periodontal diseases are responsible for a vast burden of disease globally and are associated with other severe illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. Tests for early diagnosis of periodontal d...

Authors: Birgit Teufer, Isolde Sommer, Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit, Viktoria Titscher, Corinna Bruckmann, Irma Klerings and Gerald Gartlehner

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among hepatitis C virus-infected patients: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

The ever-increasing global hepatitis C infection is fueling the burden of diabetes mellitus, which exaggerates various complications and may be a cause of death for millions. Several studies have reported that...

Authors: Sintayehu Ambachew, Setegn Eshetie, Demeke Geremew, Aklilu Endalamaw and Mulugeta Melku

Gender-based violence among female youths in educational institutions of Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Gender-based violence is a public health issue. The prevalence of gender-based violence is high in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study aims to produce an overall summary estimate on the prevalence of gen...

Authors: Addisu Shunu Beyene, Catherine Chojenta, Hirbo Shore Roba, Alemu Sufa Melka and Deborah Loxton

The effect of post mastectomy radiation therapy on breast reconstruction with and without acellular dermal matrix: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

The widespread implementation of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has broadened the reconstructive repertoire for alloplastic breast reconstruction. ADM’s role in the context of postoperative radiation therapy re...

Authors: Amy M. Chung, Michael J. Stein, Ammara Ghumman and Jing Zhang

Still moving toward automation of the systematic review process: a summary of discussions at the third meeting of the International Collaboration for Automation of Systematic Reviews (ICASR)

The third meeting of the International Collaboration for Automation of Systematic Reviews (ICASR) was held 17–18 October 2017 in London, England. ICASR is an interdisciplinary group whose goal is to maximize t...

Authors: Annette M. O’Connor, Guy Tsafnat, Stephen B. Gilbert, Kristina A. Thayer, Ian Shemilt, James Thomas, Paul Glasziou and Mary S. Wolfe

Factors associated with length of stay in care homes: a systematic review of international literature

A number of studies have explored factors associated with resident length of stay in care homes; however the findings of these studies have not been synthesized. The aim of this paper is to provide a systemati...

Authors: Danni Collingridge Moore, Thomas J. Keegan, Lesley Dunleavy and Katherine Froggatt

Association of incident dialysis modality with mortality: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies

At least 2.6 million adults and children receive dialysis treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) worldwide. The large majority of these receive hemodialysis (HD), while the remaining receive peritoneal ...

Authors: Mark R. Marshall, Chun-Yuan Hsiao, Philip K. Li, Masaaki Nakayama, S. Rabindranath, Rachael C. Walker, Xueqing Yu and Suetonia C. Palmer

Evaluation of interventions to improve electronic health record documentation within the inpatient setting: a protocol for a systematic review

Electronic health records (EHRs) are increasing in popularity across national and international healthcare systems. Despite their augmented availability and use, the quality of electronic health records is pro...

Authors: Lucia Otero Varela, Natalie Wiebe, Daniel J. Niven, Paul E. Ronksley, Nicolas Iragorri, Helen Lee Robertson and Hude Quan

Feedback from physical activity monitors to enhance amount of physical activity in adults—a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

The use of physical activity monitors (PAMs) in the adult population is increasing rapidly and previous systematic reviews are outdated. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to estimate...

Authors: Rasmus Tolstrup Larsen, Vibeke Wagner, Camilla Keller, Carsten Bogh Juhl, Henning Langberg and Jan Christensen