Articles

Local anesthetic injections with or without steroid for chronic non-cancer pain: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Steroids are often combined with local anesthetic (LA) and injected to reduce pain associated with various chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) complaints. The biological rationale behind injection of a steroid solu...

Authors: Harsha Shanthanna, Jason W. Busse, Lehana Thabane, James Paul, Rachel Couban, Harman Choudhary, Alka Kaushal, Erica Suzumura, Isabel Kim and Prathiba Harsha

Equity impact of interventions to promote physical activity in older adults: protocol for a systematic review

Public health strategies to promote physical activity among older adults are increasingly being implemented. However, it is not known whether these interventions are equally effective among all social groups o...

Authors: Gesa Lehne and Gabriele Bolte

Risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with periodontal disease and the effectiveness of interventions in decreasing this risk: protocol for systematic overview of systematic reviews

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease of the tissues supporting the teeth. Women who have periodontal disease while pregnant may be at risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although the association betw...

Authors: Sizzle F. Vanterpool, Kathleen Tomsin, Leticia Reyes, Luc J. Zimmermann, Boris W. Kramer and Jasper V. Been

Implementing PRISMA-P: recommendations for prospective authors

Authors: David Moher, Lesley Stewart and Paul Shekelle

Relationship between socioeconomic status and gastrointestinal infections in developed countries: a systematic review protocol

The association between low socioeconomic status (SES) and poor health is well documented in the existing literature. Nonetheless, evidence on the relationship between SES and gastrointestinal (GI) infections ...

Authors: Tanith C. Rose, Natalie Adams, David C. Taylor-Robinson, Benjamin Barr, Jeremy Hawker, Sarah O’Brien, Mara Violato and Margaret Whitehead

Interventions in sports settings to reduce risky alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm: a systematic review

Elevated levels of risky alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm have been reported for sportspeople and supporters compared to non-sporting populations. Limited systematic reviews have been conducted to ...

Authors: Melanie Kingsland, John H. Wiggers, Khanrin P. Vashum, Rebecca K. Hodder and Luke Wolfenden

The effectiveness and safety of treatments used for acute diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis in children: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Acute diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis (AD/AGE) are common among children in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and high-income countries (HIC). Supportive therapy including maintaining feeding, prevent...

Authors: Ivan D. Florez, Reem Al-Khalifah, Javier M. Sierra, Claudia M. Granados, Juan J. Yepes-Nuñez, Carlos Cuello-Garcia, Giordano Perez-Gaxiola, Adriana M. Zea, Gilma N. Hernandez, Areti-Angeliki Veroniki, Gordon H. Guyatt and Lehana Thabane

Core outcome sets and systematic reviews

Systematic reviews seek to bring together research evidence to answer the question for the review. The reviewers usually wish to compare, contrast and, if appropriate, combine the findings of the existing rese...

Authors: Mike Clarke and Paula R. Williamson

Herbal medicine Shaofu Zhuyu decoction for primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review protocol

Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological complaint in adolescent and young females. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of Shaofu Zhuyu (SFZY) decoctions as treatments for primary dysmenorrhea.

Authors: Hoyoung Lee, Tae-Young Choi, Chang-Seon Myung and Myeong Soo Lee

The prognostic value of magnetic resonance imaging in moderate and severe traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating condition with significant long-term mortality and morbidity. Despite current need for objective indicators to guide initial decision-making, few reliable acute ph...

Authors: Hourmazd Haghbayan, Amélie Boutin, Mathieu Laflamme, François Lauzier, Michèle Shemilt, Lynne Moore, Ryan Zarychanski, Dean Fergusson and Alexis F. Turgeon

Use of network meta-analysis in systematic reviews: a survey of authors

The reporting of network meta-analysis in systematic reviews has increased rapidly since 2009. This qualitative study was undertaken to identify authors’ perceptions of the use of these methods and of what sta...

Authors: Andrew W. Lee

Dietary sodium intake and overweight and obesity in children and adults: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Overweight and obesity in children and adults is a major public health concern. Emerging evidence suggests dietary sodium intake may be associated with obesity. This systematic review and meta-analysis will ai...

Authors: Carley A. Grimes, Dieuwerke P. Bolhuis, Feng J. He and Caryl A. Nowson

The quality of reporting methods and results of cost-effectiveness analyses in Spain: a methodological systematic review

Cost-effectiveness analysis has been recognized as an important tool to determine the efficiency of healthcare interventions and services. There is a need for evaluating the reporting of methods and results of...

Authors: Ferrán Catalá-López, Manuel Ridao, Adolfo Alonso-Arroyo, Anna García-Altés, Chris Cameron, Diana González-Bermejo, Rafael Aleixandre-Benavent, Enrique Bernal-Delgado, Salvador Peiró, Rafael Tabarés-Seisdedos and Brian Hutton

Managing diabetes in people with dementia: protocol for a realist review

Worldwide, the prevalences of diabetes and dementia are both increasing, particularly in older people. Rates of diabetes in people with dementia are between 13 and 20 %. Diabetes management and diabetic self-c...

Authors: Frances Bunn, Claire Goodman, Jo Rycroft Malone, Peter Reece Jones, Chris Burton, Greta Rait, Daksha Trivedi, Antony Bayer and Alan Sinclair

Evidence map of studies evaluating methods for conducting, interpreting and reporting overviews of systematic reviews of interventions: rationale and design

Overviews of systematic reviews attempt to systematically retrieve and summarise the results of multiple systematic reviews into a single document. Methods for conducting, interpreting and reporting overviews ...

Authors: Carole Lunny, Sue E. Brennan, Steve McDonald and Joanne E. McKenzie

A systematic review of adolescent physiological development and its relationship with health-related behaviour: a protocol

At any one time, there are one billion people worldwide who are in the second decade of their life, and 1.8 billion in the 10–24 age range.

Authors: Jan Pringle, Kate Mills, John McAteer, Ruth Jepson, Emma Hogg, Neil Anand and Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

Cinacalcet versus standard treatment for chronic kidney disease: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD) have been associated with poor health outcomes, including diminished quality and length of life. Standard management for CKD-MBD includes phosphate-r...

Authors: Nigar Sekercioglu, Jason W. Busse, Reem A. Mustafa, Gordon H. Guyatt and Lehana Thabane

Erratum to: Describe the outcomes of dysvascular partial foot amputation and how these compare to transtibial amputation: a systematic review protocol for the development of shared decision making resources

Authors: Michael P. Dillon, Stefania Fatone and Matthew Quigley

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-focused primary healthcare social and emotional wellbeing research: a systematic review protocol

Research with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian’s (hereafter referred to as Indigenous¹) needs is crucial to ensure culturally appropriate evidence-based strategies are developed to impr...

Authors: Sara Farnbach, Anne-Marie Eades and Maree Lisa Hackett

Factors associated with development of gastrointestinal problems in patients with scleroderma: a systematic review

Up to 90 % of people with scleroderma have gastrointestinal (GI) problems such as constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and malabsorption. These problems significantly impair quality of life. Our objective was to ...

Authors: Brian Younho Hong, Raymond Giang, Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Maggie Larche and Lehana Thabane

Association between BDNF levels and suicidal behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Suicidal behaviour is a complex phenomenon with a multitude of risk factors. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein crucial to nervous system function, may be involved in suicide risk. The objecti...

Authors: Rebecca B. Eisen, Stefan Perera, Laura Banfield, Rebecca Anglin, Luciano Minuzzi and Zainab Samaan

Systematic review of universal resilience interventions targeting child and adolescent mental health in the school setting: review protocol

The mental health of children and adolescents is a key area of health concern internationally. Previous empirical studies suggest that resilience may act as a protective mechanism towards the development of me...

Authors: Julia Dray, Jenny Bowman, Luke Wolfenden, Elizabeth Campbell, Megan Freund, Rebecca Hodder and John Wiggers

Telehealth methods to deliver multifactorial dietary interventions in adults with chronic disease: a systematic review protocol

The long-term management of chronic diseases requires adoption of complex dietary recommendations, which can be facilitated by regular coaching to support sustained behaviour change. Telehealth interventions c...

Authors: Jaimon T. Kelly, Dianne P. Reidlinger, Tammy C. Hoffmann and Katrina L. Campbell

Assessment and prevention of behavioural and social risk factors associated with oral cancer: protocol for a systematic review of clinical guidelines and systematic reviews to inform Primary Care dental professionals

Tobacco and alcohol are recognised as the major risk factors for both oral cavity (mouth) and oropharyngeal (throat) cancers, with increasing acceptance of the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the aetiolo...

Authors: Sweta Mathur, David I. Conway, Heather Worlledge-Andrew, Lorna M.D. Macpherson and Alastair J. Ross

All in the Family: systematic reviews, rapid reviews, scoping reviews, realist reviews, and more

Authors: David Moher, Lesley Stewart and Paul Shekelle

Prognostic factors for tumor recurrence in patients with clinical stage I seminoma undergoing surveillance—protocol for a systematic review

Testicular cancer is primarily treated with the surgical removal of the affected testis. About 50 % of testicular cancer patients present with a stage I seminoma. If no chemo- or radiotherapy as adjuvant treat...

Authors: Frank Kunath, Annabel Spek, Katrin Jensen, Friedemann Zengerling and Stefanie Schmidt

A realist review of family-based interventions for children of substance abusing parents

Millions of children across North America and Europe live in families with alcohol or drug abusing parents. These children are at risk for a number of negative social, emotional and developmental outcomes, inc...

Authors: Amelia M. Usher, Kelly E. McShane and Candice Dwyer

Qualitative and mixed methods in systematic reviews

Authors: David Gough

Interventions that support the creation of dementia friendly environments in health care: protocol for a realist review

Improving health-care outcomes for people living with dementia when they are admitted to hospital is a policy priority. Dementia friendly interventions in health care promote inclusion of patients and carers i...

Authors: Melanie Handley, Frances Bunn and Claire Goodman

Full predicted energy from nutrition and the effect on mortality and infectious complications in critically ill adults: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of parallel randomised controlled trials

Whilst nutrition is vital to survival in health, the precise role of nutrition during critical illness is controversial. More specifically, the exact amount of energy that is required during critical illness t...

Authors: Emma J. Ridley, Andrew R. Davies, Carol Hodgson, Adam Deane, Michael Bailey and D. James Cooper

The effectiveness of workplace interventions to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behaviour in adults: protocol for a systematic review

A physically active lifestyle plays a preventative role in the development of various chronic diseases and mental health conditions. Unfortunately, few adults achieve the minimum amount of physical activity an...

Authors: Christina C. Loitz, Robert J. Potter, Jessica L. Walker, Nicole C. McLeod and Nora J. Johnston

Resting blood pressure reductions following isometric handgrip exercise training and the impact of age and sex: protocol for a systematic review

The risk of developing cardiovascular disease is directly correlated to one’s resting blood pressure (BP), age, and biological sex. Resting BP can be reduced using handgrip exercise training, but the impact of...

Authors: Danielle C. Bentley, Cindy H. Nguyen and Scott G. Thomas

Descending pain modulation in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder. While abdominal pain is a dominant symptom of IBS, many sufferers also report widespread hypersensitivity and present with other...

Authors: Rosemary J. Chakiath, Philip J. Siddall, John E. Kellow, Julia M. Hush, Mike P. Jones, Anna Marcuzzi and Paul J. Wrigley

Protocol for a systematic review of psychological interventions for cancer-related fatigue in post-treatment cancer survivors

Fatigue is a common symptom in cancer patients that can persist beyond the curative treatment phase. Some evidence has been reported for interventions for fatigue during active treatment. However, to date, the...

Authors: Teresa Corbett, Declan Devane, Jane C. Walsh, AnnMarie Groarke and Brian E. McGuire

Describing the outcomes of dysvascular partial foot amputation and how these compare to transtibial amputation: a systematic review protocol for the development of shared decision making resources

Helping people make well-informed decisions about dysvascular partial foot amputation is becoming increasingly important as improvements in diabetes care and vascular surgery make more distal amputations incre...

Authors: Michael P Dillon, Stefania Fatone and Matthew Quigley

Supporting systematic reviews using LDA-based document representations

Identifying relevant studies for inclusion in a systematic review (i.e. screening) is a complex, laborious and expensive task. Recently, a number of studies has shown that the use of machine learning and text ...

Authors: Yuanhan Mo, Georgios Kontonatsios and Sophia Ananiadou

Repurposed therapeutic agents targeting the Ebola virus: a protocol for a systematic review

The recent Ebola epidemic in western Africa developed into an acute public health emergency of unprecedented level in modern times. The treatment provided in most cases has been limited to supportive care, as ...

Authors: Hussein Sweiti, Obinna Ekwunife, Thomas Jaschinski and Stefan K. Lhachimi

Effectiveness of probiotic in preventing and treating antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and/or Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea in patients with spinal cord injury: a protocol of systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Probiotics may prevent antibiotic-associated and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (AAD/CDAD). Many spinal cord injury centre (SCIC) practitioners consider probiotics generically and may not realise that...

Authors: Samford Wong, Ali Jamous, Jean O’Driscoll, Ravi Sekhar, Mofid Saif, Steve O’Driscoll, Sarah Lewis, Eamonn McKeown and Shashi P. Hirani

Erratum to: What value is the CINAHL database when searching for systematic reviews of qualitative studies?

Authors: Kath Wright, Su Golder and Kate Lewis-Light

The role of high-dose myeloablative chemotherapy with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children with central nervous system (CNS) tumours: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective of the study is to conduct a systematic review to compare the effects of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) versus standard-dose chemoth...

Authors: Caroline Main, Jayne S. Wilson, Simon P. Stevens, Aimee E. Houlton, Martin English, Pamela R. Kearns, Bob Phillips, Barry Pizer, Sophie Wilne and Keith Wheatley

Clinical outcomes of immunoglobulin use in solid organ transplant recipients: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Transplantation improves survival and the quality of life of patients with end-stage organ failure. Infection, due to surgical issues, host factors such as diabetes, immunosuppression, and hypogammaglobulinemi...

Authors: Juthaporn Cowan, Brian Hutton, Nicholas Fergusson, Alexandria Bennett, Jason Tay, D. William Cameron and Greg A. Knoll

Anti-IgE monoclonal antibody therapy for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: a systematic review

Several options are available for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), but disease control remains elusive for many patients. Recently, literature has emerged describing anti-IgE monoclonal antibody ...

Authors: Chris J. Hong, Adrian C. Tsang, Jason G. Quinn, James P. Bonaparte, Adrienne Stevens and Shaun J. Kilty

The risk of intra-cranial haemorrhage in those presenting late to the ED following a head injury: a systematic review

Head injury represents an extremely common presentation to emergency departments (ED), but not all patients present immediately after injury. There is evidence that clinical deterioration following head injury...

Authors: Carl Marincowitz, Christopher M. Smith and William Townend

Systematic review of the use of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) in home-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes for patients with cardiovascular disease—protocol

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including myocardial infarction, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease and strokes, are highly prevalent conditions and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Ca...

Authors: Neil Heron, Frank Kee, Michael Donnelly, Mark A. Tully and Margaret E. Cupples

Do alternative methods for analysing count data produce similar estimates? Implications for meta-analyses

Many randomised trials have count outcomes, such as the number of falls or the number of asthma exacerbations. These outcomes have been treated as counts, continuous outcomes or dichotomised and analysed using...

Authors: Peter Herbison, M. Clare Robertson and Joanne E. McKenzie

Fluid strategies and outcomes in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fluid administration to critically ill patients remains the subject of considerable controversy. While intravenous fluid given for resuscitation may be life-saving, a positive fluid balance over time is associ...

Authors: Jonathan A. Silversides, Andrew J. Ferguson, Daniel F. McAuley, Bronagh Blackwood, John C. Marshall and Eddy Fan

Pre-clinical evaluation of therapies to prevent or treat bone non-union: a systematic review protocol

Non-union of fractured bone is a major cause of morbidity in the orthopaedic population. Despite this, optimal management of non-union is still unclear and remains a significant clinical challenge. Research co...

Authors: Sarah K. Stewart, Philippa M. Bennett, Sarah A. Stapley, Janine Dretzke, Danai Bem and Jowan G. Penn-Barwell

How to conduct systematic reviews more expeditiously?

Healthcare consumers, researchers, patients and policy makers increasingly use systematic reviews (SRs) to aid their decision-making process. However, the conduct of SRs can be a time-consuming and resource-in...

Authors: Alexander Tsertsvadze, Yen-Fu Chen, David Moher, Paul Sutcliffe and Noel McCarthy

Protocol for systematic review of evidence on the determinants and influence of early glycaemic control in childhood-onset type 1 diabetes

Landmark studies in adult-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) populations indicate that improved glycaemic control through use of intensive insulin therapy is strongly associated with reduced risk for the development ...

Authors: Veena Mazarello Paes, Dimitrios Charalampopoulos, Amal R. Khanolkar, David Taylor-Robinson, Russell Viner, Julie Edge, Terence Stephenson and Rakesh Amin

Quality and performance measures of strain on intensive care capacity: a protocol for a systematic review

The matching of critical care service supply with demand is fundamental for the efficient delivery of advanced life support to patients in urgent need. Mismatch in this supply/demand relationship contributes t...

Authors: S. Abolfazi Soltani, Armann Ingolfsson, David A. Zygun, Henry T. Stelfox, Lisa Hartling, Robin Featherstone, Dawn Opgenorth and Sean M. Bagshaw