Cochrane Review Research Articles

Malignant Transformation of Dysplastic Vocal Fold Lesions

The reported rates of malignant transformation of dysplastic laryngeal lesions are highly variable, as is time to malignant degeneration. To evaluate the rate of and time to malignant transformation of dysplastic laryngeal lesions based on the World Health Organization (WHO) dysplasia classification system. PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and Cochrane Reviews were searched from the date of database inception to June 8, 2023. English-language articles assessing the rate of malignant transformation using the 2005 WHO dysplasia classification system were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The study was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. Data extraction was performed by 2 independent investigators. Study quality was assessed using a validated quality tool. When possible, data were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. The primary outcome measure was the malignant transformation rate in each laryngeal dysplasia category. Secondary outcome measure was the time interval over which malignant transformation had occurred. A total of 5585 records were screened, 61 full texts were assessed, and 18 retrospective cohort studies with 3243 participants were included in the final review. The weighted pooled mean malignant transformation rates of mildly, moderately, and severely dysplastic lesions were 10.9%, 23.3%, and 30.5%, respectively. Malignant transformation rate of nondysplastic laryngeal lesions was 4.5%. Moderately and severely dysplastic lesions had significantly higher odds of malignant transformation compared with mildly dysplastic lesions (moderate: odds ratio [OR], 2.90 [95% CI, 2.06-4.09]; I2 = 0%; severe: OR, 3.42 [95% CI, 2.11-5.52]; I2 = 40%). Lesions without dysplasia had a significantly lower odds of malignant transformation compared with lesions with mild dysplasia (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28-0.81; I2 = 0%). The overall mean time to malignant transformation was 28.8 months (range, 22.0-35.6 months) for all dysplasia grades. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that the rate of malignant transformation increased with the grade of laryngeal dysplasia. Moderately dysplastic lesions were more likely to undergo malignant degeneration compared with mildly dysplastic lesions.

The impact of continuity correction methods in Cochrane reviews with single-zero trials with rare events: A meta-epidemiological study.

Meta-analyses examining dichotomous outcomes often include single-zero studies, where no events occur in intervention or control groups. These pose challenges, and several methods have been proposed to address them. A fixed continuity correction method has been shown to bias estimates, but it is frequently used because sometimes software (e.g., RevMan software in Cochrane reviews) uses it as a default. We aimed to empirically compare results using the continuity correction with those using alternative models that do not require correction. To this aim, we reanalyzed the original data from 885 meta-analyses in Cochrane reviews using the following methods: (i) Mantel-Haenszel model with a fixed continuity correction, (ii) random effects inverse variance model with a fixed continuity correction, (iii) Peto method (the three models available in RevMan), (iv) random effects inverse variance model with the treatment arm continuity correction, (v) Mantel-Haenszel model without correction, (vi) logistic regression, and (vii) a Bayesian random effects model with binominal likelihood. For each meta-analysis we calculated ratios of odds ratios between all methods, to assess how the choice of method may impact results. Ratios of odds ratios <0.8 or <1.25 were seen in ~30% of the existing meta-analyses when comparing results between Mantel-Haenszel model with a fixed continuity correction and either Mantel-Haenszel model without correction or logistic regression. We concluded that injudicious use of the fixed continuity correction in existing Cochrane reviews may have substantially influenced effect estimates in some cases. Future updates of RevMan should incorporate less biased statistical methods.

Online dissemination of Cochrane reviews on digital health technologies: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThis cross-sectional study investigated the online dissemination of Cochrane reviews on digital health technologies.MethodsWe searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception up to May 2023. Cochrane reviews with any population (P), intervention or concept supported by any digital technology (I), any or no comparison (C), and any health outcome (O) were included. Data on review characteristics (bibliographic information, PICO, and evidence quality) and dissemination strategies were extracted and processed. Dissemination was assessed using review information on the Cochrane website and Altmetric data that trace the mentions of academic publications in nonacademic online channels. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis.ResultsOut of 170 records identified in the search, 100 Cochrane reviews, published between 2005 and 2023, were included. The reviews focused on consumers (e.g. patients, n = 86), people of any age (n = 44), and clinical populations (n = 68). All reviews addressed interventions or concepts supported by digital technologies with any devices (n = 73), mobile devices (n = 17), or computers (n = 10). The outcomes focused on disease treatment (n = 56), health promotion and disease prevention (n = 27), or management of care delivery (n = 17). All reviews included 1–132 studies, and half included 1–10 studies. Meta-analysis was performed in 69 reviews, and certainty of evidence was rated as high or moderate for at least one outcome in 46 reviews.In agreement with the Cochrane guidelines, all reviews had a plain language summary (PLS) that was available in 3–14 languages. The reviews were disseminated (i.e. mentioned online) predominantly via X/Twitter (n = 99) and Facebook (n = 69). Overall, 51 reviews were mentioned in up to 25% and 49 reviews in 5% of all research outputs traced by Altmetric data. Dissemination (i.e. higher Altmetric scores) was associated with bibliographic review characteristics (i.e. earlier publication year and PLS available in more languages), but not with evidence quality (i.e. certainty of evidence rating, number of studies, or meta-analysis performed in review).ConclusionsOnline attention towards Cochrane reviews on digital health technologies is high. Dissemination is higher for older reviews and reviews with more PLS translations. Measures are required to improve dissemination of Cochrane reviews based on evidence quality.Systematic review registrationThe study was prospectively registered at the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/mpw8u/).

Psychosocial interventions for reducing antipsychotic medication in care home residents: a Cochrane Review

Psychosocial interventions for reducing antipsychotic medication in care home residents: a Cochrane Review

Are psychosocial interventions effective in reducing antipsychotic use for dementia in care home residents? Current evidence and future perspectives

SUMMARY Antipsychotics are commonly prescribed to manage the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) despite their modest efficacy and significant adverse effects. Psychosocial interventions are recommended as the first-line approach in treating BPSD before considering pharmacological options. A Cochrane Review by Lühnen et al (2023) evaluated the effects of psychosocial interventions on reducing antipsychotic prescription in care homes, and found that no generalisable recommendations can be made based on the currently available evidence. This commentary attempts to critically appraise and add context to the review.

Treating Depression in Dementia Patients: A Risk or Remedy—A Narrative Review

Background: The diagnosis of depression in dementia patients leads to an increase in the burden of the disease. To treat depression in this patient group, antidepressants are frequently used; however, there is not any proof of their therapeutic effectiveness, and their use may be potentially harmful. This narrative review aims to summarize the existing evidence regarding the role of antidepressants in treating depression in dementia patients. Main text: A search was conducted in the PubMed, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses wherein antidepressants were given to dementia sufferers to address depression. Fifteen randomized controlled trials and seven meta-analyses were identified. Most well-designed blinded placebo-controlled trials reported a lack of effectiveness of antidepressants in treating depression in dementia patients. Among the seven metanalyses, two reported good efficacy of Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, two major Cochrane reviews reported little or no effectiveness and increased side effects of antidepressants in dementia patients. Conclusion: There is robust evidence regarding the lack of efficacy of antidepressants in treating depression in dementia patients. However, further well-designed Randomized controlled trials (RCTs,) using scales with good validity and reliability to diagnose depression in dementia patients, sufficient sample sizes, and detailed adverse effect profiles may help determine the rationale for their use.

Comparative analysis of Cochrane and non-Cochrane reviews over three decades

BackgroundSystematic reviews are viewed as the best study design to guide clinical decision-making as they are the least biased publications assuming they are well-conducted and include well-designed studies. Cochrane was initiated in 1993 with an aim of conducting high-quality systematic reviews. We aimed to examine the publication rates of non-Cochrane systematic reviews (henceforth referred to simply as “systematic reviews”) and Cochrane reviews produced throughout Cochrane’s existence and characterize changes throughout the period.MethodsThis observational study collected data on systematic reviews published between 1993 and 2022 in PubMed. Identified Cochrane reviews were linked to data from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews via their Digital Object Identifier. Systematic reviews and Cochrane reviews were analyzed separately. Two authors screened a random sample of records to validate the overall sample, providing a precision of 98%.ResultsWe identified 231,602 (94%) systematic reviews and 15,038 (6%) Cochrane reviews. Publication of systematic reviews has continuously increased with a median yearly increase rate of 26%, while publication of Cochrane reviews has decreased since 2015. From 1993 to 2002, Cochrane reviews constituted 35% of all systematic reviews in PubMed compared with 3.5% in 2013–2022. Systematic reviews consistently had fewer authors than Cochrane reviews, but the number of authors increased over time for both. Chinese first authors conducted 15% and 4% of systematic reviews published from 2013–2022 and 2003–2012, respectively. Most Cochrane reviews had first authors from the UK (36%). The native English-speaking countries the USA, the UK, Canada, and Australia produced a large share of systematic reviews (42%) and Cochrane reviews (62%). The largest publishers of systematic reviews in the last 10 years were gold open access journals.ConclusionsPublication of systematic reviews is increasing rapidly, while fewer Cochrane reviews have been published through the last decade. Native English-speaking countries produced a large proportion of both types of systematic reviews. Gold open access journals and Chinese first authors dominated the publication of systematic reviews for the past 10 years. More research is warranted examining why fewer Cochrane reviews are being published. Additionally, examining these systematic reviews for research waste metrics may provide a clearer picture of their utility.

Measures implemented in the school setting to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Measures implemented in the school setting to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diagnostic accuracy of serological and imaging tests used in surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma in adults with cirrhosis: a systematic review protocol

Background Liver cirrhosis is the largest risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and surveillance is therefore recommended among this population. Current guidance recommends surveillance with ultrasound, with or without alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). This review is part of a larger project looking at benefits, harms and costs of surveillance for HCC in people with cirrhosis. It aims to synthesise the evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of imaging or biomarker tests, alone or in combination, to identify HCC in adults with liver cirrhosis in a surveillance programme. Methods We will identify studies through a 2021 Cochrane review with similar eligibility criteria, and a database search of MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. We will include diagnostic test accuracy studies with adult cirrhosis patients of any aetiology. Studies must assess at least one of the following index tests: ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerised tomography (CT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), a genomic biomarker, or a diagnostic prediction model incorporating at least one of the above-mentioned tests. We will assess studies for risk of bias using QUADAS-2 and QUADAS-C. We will combine data using bivariate random effects meta-analyses. For tests evaluated across varying diagnostic thresholds, we will produce pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity across the full range of numerical thresholds, where possible. Where sufficient studies compare two or more index tests, we will perform additional analyses to compare the accuracy of different tests. Where feasible, we will stratify all meta-analyses by tumour size and patient characteristics, including cirrhosis aetiology and liver disease severity. Discussion This review will synthesise evidence across the full range of possible surveillance tests, using advanced statistical methods to summarise accuracy across all thresholds and to compare the accuracy of different tests. PROSPERO registration CRD42022357163

Comparison of the Clinical Efficacy of Anabolic Agents and Bisphosphonates in the Patients With Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

We investigated the clinical efficacy of anabolic agents compared with bisphosphonates (BPs) for the incidence of new osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) and fracture healing of OVF in the patients with OVF via meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for published RCTs till December 2022. The RCTs that recruited participants with osteoporosis at high-/very high-risk of fracture (a history of osteoporotic vertebral or hip fracture) or fresh OVF were included in this study. We assessed the risk of bias on every included RCTs, estimated relative risk (RR) for the incidence of new OVF and fracture healing of OVF, and overall certainty of evidence. Meta-analyses were performed by Cochrane review manager (RevMan) version 5.3. Cochrane risk of bias 2.0 and GRADEpro/GDT were applied for evaluating methodological quality and overall certainty of evidence, respectively. Five hundred eighteen studies were screened, and finally 6 eligible RCTs were included in the analysis. In the patients with prevalent OVF, anabolic agents significantly reduced the incidence of new OVF (teriparatide and romosozumab vs alendronate and risedronate [RR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.45 - 0.71; p < 0.00001; high-certainty of evidence]; teriparatide vs risedronate [RR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.37 - 0.68; p < 0.0001; high-certainty of evidence]. However, there was no evidence of teriparatide compared to alendronate in fracture healing of OVF (RR = 1.23, 95% CI 0.95 - 1.60; p = 0.12; low-certainty of evidence). In the patients with prevalent OVF, anabolic agents showed a significant superiority for preventing new OVF than BPs, with no significant evidence for promoting fracture healing of OVF. However, considering small number of RCTs in this study, additional studies with large-scale data are required to obtain more robust evidences.

High certainty evidence is stable and trustworthy, whereas evidence of moderate or lower certainty may be equally prone to being unstable

ObjectiveTo assess to what extent the overall quality of evidence indicates changes to observed intervention effect estimates when new data become available. Study Design and SettingWe conducted a meta- epidemiological study. We obtained evidence from meta-analyses of randomized trials of Cochrane reviews addressing the same healthcare question that was updated with inclusion of additional data between January 2016 and May 2021. MethodsWe extracted the reported effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals from meta-analyses and corresponding GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) assessments of any intervention comparison for the primary outcome in the first and the last updated review version. We considered the reported overall quality (certainty) of evidence (CoE) and specific evidence limitations (no, serious or very serious for risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, and/or indirectness). We assessed the change in pooled effect estimates between the original and updated evidence using the ratio of odds ratio (ROR), absolute ROR (aROR), ratio of standard errors (RoSE), direction of effects, and level of statistical significance. ResultsHigh CoE without limitations characterized 19.3% (n=29) out of 150 included original Cochrane reviews. The update with additional data did not systematically change the effect estimates (mean ROR 1.00; 95%CI 0.99-1.02), which deviated 1.06-fold from the older estimates (median aROR; IQR: 1.01-1.15), gained precision (median RoSE 0.87; IQR 0.76-1.00), and maintained the same direction with the same level of statistical significance in 93% (27 of 29) of cases.Lower CoE with limitations characterized 121 original reviews and graded as moderate CoE in 30.0% (45 of 150), low CoE in 32.0% (48 of 150), and very low CoE in 18.7% (28 of 150) reviews. Their update had larger absolute deviations (median aROR 1.12 to 1.33) and larger gains in precision (median RoSE 0.78 to 0.86) without clear and consistent differences between these categories of CoE. Changes in effect direction or statistical significance were also more common in the lower quality evidence, again with a similar extent across categories (without change in 75.6%, 64.6%, and 75.0% for moderate, low, very low CoE). As limitations increased, effect estimates deviated more (aROR 1.05 with zero, 1.11 with one, 1.25 with two, 1.24 with three limitations) and changes in direction or significance became more frequent (93.2% stable with no limitations, 74.5% with one, 68.2% with two, and 61.5% with three limitations). ConclusionsHigh-quality evidence without methodological deficiencies is trustworthy and stable, providing reliable intervention effect estimates when updated with new data. Evidence of moderate and lower quality may be equally prone to being unstable and cannot indicate if available effect estimates are true, exaggerated, or underestimated.

Effectiveness of fluoride mouthrinse in prevention of demineralization during fixed orthodontic treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Enamel demineralization is a very common occurrence around bonded brackets in an orthodontic practice. Fluoride (FLR) applications have been used to prevent decalcification and further progression of white spot lesions. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to systematically appraise available literature on the effectiveness of fluoride mouthrinse in the prevention of demineralization around fixed orthodontic appliances. A search was conducted for randomized controlled clinical trials among four electronic databases (MEDLINE, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Cochrane Review) through MeSH terms and keywords. Studies were excluded if random allocation was not conducted, or if they were animal or in vitro studies. About 146 articles were screened and 5 studies were selected for the present review. Only two studies were selected for MA due to variations in the measurement of outcomes among studies. This review concluded that rinsing with FLR in the course of the fixed orthodontic treatment lessens demineralization around the bracket. Using FLR mouthrinse to inhibit the formation of white spot lesions or dental caries in patients with multiple cavities or restoration can be considered in clinical practice.

Summary of a Cochrane review: Replacing salt with low-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) for cardiovascular health in adults, children and pregnant women

Summary of a Cochrane review: Replacing salt with low-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) for cardiovascular health in adults, children and pregnant women

Outcomes for Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia After Direct and Indirect Endovascular and Surgical Revascularization: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

The purpose of this review and meta-analysis is to determine the clinical outcome differences between patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia who underwent direct versus indirect angiosome revascularization using either the surgical or endovascular approach. The data sources used for article selection included PubMed, Embase/Medline, Cochrane reviews, and Web of Science (All studies were in English and included up to September 2023). All articles included were comparative in design, including retrospective, prospective, and randomized controlled trials that compared the clinical outcomes between direct and indirect angiosome-guided revascularization in chronic limb-threatening ischemia. A random-effects model was used to determine the measure of association between direct revascularization and amputation-free survival, wound healing, and overall survival. Publication bias was assessed with both Begg's and Egger's test, and heterogeneity was calculated using an I2. Data from 9 articles were analyzed and reported in this review. Direct revascularization was associated with improved amputation-free survival (odds ratio [OR]=2.632, confidence interval [CI]: 1.625, 4.265), binary wound healing (OR=2.262, CI: 1.518, 3.372), and overall survival (OR=1.757, CI: 1.176, 2.625). Time until wound healed was not associated with either direct or indirect revascularization (Standard Mean Difference [SMD]=-2.15, p=0.11). There was a low risk of bias across all studies according to the RoB 2.0 tool. Direct revascularization is associated with improved amputation-free survival, overall survival, and wound healing in chronic limb-threatening ischemic patients compared to the indirect approach. Preservation of the lower extremity is critical for preventing mortality and maintaining independence. The benefit of angiosome-guided revascularization for chronic limb-threatening ischemia remains controversial. The authors of this article aim to review the current literature and compare direct and indirect angiosome-guided intervention for preserving the lower extremity. Current findings suggest direct angiosome-guided intervention reduces amputation rates and improves survival; however, many trials neglect to address the multifactorial approach needed in wound care management.

Intracranial Pressure Monitoring in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The objective of this study is to summarize the evidence in Cochrane and non-Cochrane systematic reviews, the effects, and the benefits of monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with head trauma with an indication of ICP monitoringMethods: The process of preparing this overview followed the guidelines established by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for umbrella reviews. Two independent reviewers evaluated the quality of reporting, bias risk, methodologies, and evidence using three different tools: the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) instrument, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR 2). Results: A total of five papers met the criteria for inclusion in the study. These papers consisted of 49 primary research studies and 19 unique primary research studies. One of the SRs indicated that using intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring led to a reduction in mortality. Two of the SRs had mixed results with temporal variation, while two found no significant difference in mortality with ICP monitoring. It is important to note that the quality of the SRs varied, with some being of higher quality than others.Conclusion: There was no conclusive evidence that ICP monitoring reduces mortality in TBI patients. There was high heterogeneity in included primary research studies. Future research should aim to address the limitations of these studies and provide more conclusive evidence regarding the effectiveness of ICP monitoring in reducing mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury.

The molecular pathology at Work: Metformin and Variability in Glycemic Control

The molecular pathology at Work: Metformin and Variability in Glycemic Control

Australian and New Zealand Living Guideline cholesterol-lowering therapy for people with chronic kidney disease (CARI Guidelines): Reducing the evidence-practice gap.

People with chronic kidney disease experience high rates of cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol-lowering therapy is a mainstay in the management but there is uncertainty in the treatment effects on patient-important outcomes, such as fatigue and rhabdomyolysis. Here, we summarise the updated CARI Australian and New Zealand Living Guidelines on cholesterol-lowering therapy in chronic kidney disease. We updated a Cochrane review and monitored newly published studies weekly to inform guideline development according to international standards. The Working Group included expertise from nephrology, cardiology, Indigenous Health, guideline development and people with lived experience of chronic kidney disease. The guideline recommends people with chronic kidney disease (eGFR ≥15 mL/min/1.73 m2) and an absolute cardiovascular risk of 10% or higher should receive statin therapy (with or without ezetimibe) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and death (strong recommendation, moderate certainty evidence). The guidelines also recommends a lower absolute cardiovascular risk threshold (≥5%) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Māori with chronic kidney disease to receive statin therapy (with or without ezetimibe) (strong recommendation, low certainty evidence). The evidence was actively surveyed from 2020-2023 and updated as required. No changes to guideline recommendations were made, with no new data on the balance and benefits of harms. The development of living guidelines was feasible and provided the opportunity to update recommendations to improve clinical decision-making in real-time. Living guidelines provide the opportunity to transform chronic kidney disease guidelines.

Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers for preventing the progression of diabetic kidney disease.

Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers for preventing the progression of diabetic kidney disease.

Assessment of fidelity to interventions aiming to improve appropriate use of polypharmacy in older people

Abstract Introduction Studies demonstrating the effectiveness of an intervention could lack reliability if they do not involve an assessment of intervention fidelity. Fidelity evaluations findings can provide valuable insights for implementing interventions in clinical trials and in finding solutions for more successful interventions.[1] Despite the importance of this methodological feature, there has been a lack of focus on assessing aspects of fidelity to interventions designed to improve appropriate polypharmacy in older adults.[2] Aim To assess intervention fidelity in studies aimed at improving appropriateness of polypharmacy in older adults. Methods A paper-based assessment was conducted to evaluate intervention fidelity in 10 trials added to a Cochrane review which was being updated.[2] The interventions were assessed by the research team, comprising pharmacists experienced in health research and authors of the aforementioned review.[2] Data were extracted and assessed using the National Institutes of Health Behaviour Change Consortium (NIH-BCC).[1] This framework involves five domains: intervention design, provider training, intervention delivery, intervention receipt and intervention enactment. There are 39 elements across the five domains which were assessed as ‘present,’ ‘absent, but should be present,’ or ‘not applicable’. A scale ranging from zero (strongly disagree) to six (strongly agree) was used to rate fidelity. If an element was judged as ‘present’, it was rated between 1-6 based on the extent of the description of its presence. If an element was judged as ‘absent, but should be present’, this was scored as zero. If the element was graded as ‘not applicable’, it was excluded. The overall fidelity score for each study was calculated as the sum of scores for all elements, ranging between 0-234, with ≤116 equating to poor fidelity, 117-176 equating to fair fidelity, and 177-234 equating to good fidelity. Barriers and facilitators to conducting effective interventions reported in the included trials were compiled and combined into descriptive categories. Results Of the 10 included trials, none addressed all NIH-BCC domains. Intervention design contains 16 elements, and nine were reported in the trials such as content of treatment dose of ‘intervention’ and ‘comparison’ conditions. Of the seven elements that comprised provider training, three elements were addressed (e.g. how providers were trained). Six out of nine elements that encompassed delivery of intervention were presented (e.g. method to ensure the dose of intervention is delivered as specified). Of the five elements that comprised receipt of intervention, two elements were acknowledged including multicultural factors considered in development and delivery of intervention. The enactment domain was not considered in trials. Individual total study scores ranged between 19-72, with intervention fidelity for each study considered poor. Barriers (e.g. intervention complexity) and facilitators (e.g. prescribers’ experiences) to implement effective interventions were identified. Conclusion This study assessed intervention fidelity of trials aiming at improving appropriate polypharmacy in older adults. This was judged to be poor for each study. The number of included trials was small, and the scoring method was not validated. Future trials should consider addressing intervention fidelity comprehensively to help plan, implement and assess trials.

Systematic assessment of the influence of quality of studies on mistletoe in cancer care on the results of a meta-analysis on overall survival

PurposeMistletoe treatment in cancer patients is controversial, and a Cochrane review concluded that due to heterogeneity, performing a meta-analysis was not suitable. However, several systematic reviews included meta-analyses in favor of mistletoe. The aim of this work was to assess the influence of the methodological quality of controlled studies on the results of a meta-analysis regarding overall survival.MethodsBetween April and August 2022, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Science were systematically searched. In addition, reference lists of previously published meta-analyses were checked for relevant publications. A random effects meta-analysis with clustering was performed. The risk of bias within the studies was assessed using ROB 2.0 and ROBINS-I.ResultsThe search identified 4685 hits, and 28 publications reporting on 28 298 patients were included in the quantitative analysis. Overall, the analysis led to a significant result in favor of mistletoe therapy (overall HR = 0.61 with 95% CI [0.53;0.7]). According to our subgroup analysis of randomized studies, studies of higher quality (lower risk of bias) did not lead to a significant result in favor of mistletoe therapy (HR = 0.78; CI = [0.30; 2.00]).ConclusionsIn the case of mistletoe therapy, the results of the meta-analysis strongly depended on the methodological quality of the included studies. Calculating meta-analyses that include low-quality studies may lead to severe misinterpretation of the data.