Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Stefanie Castillo, Petar Grbovic
Summary: This paper presents a methodology for executing systematic literature reviews in engineering, which combines a task-oriented engineering flow and customized tool support. The method successfully collects valid literature to report the state of the art in engineering sciences.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Maureen K. Spill, Laural K. English, Ramkripa Raghavan, Emily Callahan, Darcy Gungor, Brittany Kingshipp, Joanne Spahn, Eve Stoody, Julie Obbagy
Summary: This article describes the methods used by USDA's NESR team to grade the strength of evidence in food- and nutrition-related systematic reviews. The NESR grading process includes assessing evidence against five elements and assigning one of four grades. This rigorous and transparent process ensures that decisions related to nutrition and public health are based on the strongest available evidence.
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Dermatology
Marissa T. Ayasse, Adnan Ahmed, Maria L. Espinosa, Christina J. Walker, Muhammad Yousaf, Jacob P. Thyssen, Jonathan Silverberg
Summary: The study found that search strategies for systematic reviews (SR) of atopic dermatitis (AD) were diverse, with varying numbers of search terms leading to different hit rates.
ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
T. Walsh, R. Macey, D. Ricketts, A. Carrasco Labra, H. Worthington, A. J. Sutton, S. Freeman, A. M. Glenny, P. Riley, J. Clarkson, E. Cerullo
Summary: Detection and diagnosis of caries are typically effective at identifying advanced caries, with the potential for stabilizing or remineralizing teeth surfaces. However, the certainty of diagnostic accuracy, especially in future real-world contexts, remains uncertain due to wide prediction intervals.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Louise Harding, Caterina J. Marra, Judy Illes
Summary: The integrity and reproducibility of systematic and scoping reviews rely on appropriate search strategies to capture relevant resources. Indigenous health reviews face challenges in creating a search strategy due to the lack of universally agreed upon identification criteria. Addressing gaps in methodology and improving communication are crucial for advancing research on global Indigenous populations.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Christine J. Neilson, Zahra Premji
Summary: The transparency and reproducibility of research are crucial for improving research quality. However, some authors of systematic reviews do not provide search strategies when publishing their manuscripts. Requesting search strategies via email has a low chance of success and requires enforcement from journal editors.
RESEARCH SYNTHESIS METHODS
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Joanna F. Zajac, Dawid Storman, Mateusz J. Swierz, Magdalena Koperny, Paulina Weglarz, Wojciech Staskiewicz, Magdalena Gorecka, Anna Skuza, Adam Wach, Klaudia Kaluzinska, Justyna Bochenek-Cibor, Bradley C. Johnston, Malgorzata M. Bala
Summary: This systematic survey revealed significant limitations in the quality and risk of bias of systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining nutrition and cancer prevention. The results cannot be considered trustworthy and should be interpreted with caution.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Blossom Lake, Sarah Damery, Kate Jolly
Summary: This study reviewed the effects of lifestyle interventions on weight loss, BMI, body composition, health-related quality of life, physical functioning, psychosocial measures, and biomarkers in breast cancer survivors. The results showed that lifestyle interventions can significantly improve outcomes for breast cancer survivors in terms of body measures and quality of life.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Julie Obbagy, Ramkripa Raghavan, Natasha Chong Cole, Laural K. K. English, Molly Higgins, Joanne M. M. Spahn, Charlotte L. L. Bahnfleth, Emily Callahan, Amanda Fultz, Julia H. H. Kim, Brittany J. J. Kingshipp, Julie E. H. Nevins, Sara R. R. Scinto-Madonich, Allison Webster, Eve Stoody
Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review Branch develops systematic reviews and other evidence synthesis products related to food and nutrition. The NESR has become a key resource for the Federal government in making evidence-informed decisions. NESR's rigorous methodology, involving collaboration with various stakeholders, ensures the production of high-quality and trustworthy systematic reviews.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Martina E. McMenamin, Helen S. Bond, Sheena G. Sullivan, Benjamin J. Cowling
Summary: This review examines the methods used to evaluate relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) in influenza studies. The findings suggest that there is considerable variation in the approaches to rVE evaluation, highlighting the need for a more standardized approach. The study also emphasizes the importance of considering methodological issues such as estimate stability and confounding structure in the interpretation of rVE estimates.
Review
Biology
Kaitlyn Hair, Zsanett Bahor, Malcolm Macleod, Jing Liao, Emily S. Sena
Summary: This study presents the performance of ASySD, an automated tool for deduplicating systematic searches in biomedical reviews. ASySD outperforms both SRA-DM and EndNote in identifying and removing duplicates, with a sensitivity of 0.95 to 0.99 and a specificity of > 0.99. The tool is time-saving, reliable, and freely available online.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Melinda J. Hutchesson, Claire Gough, Andre Matthias Muller, Camille E. Short, Megan C. Whatnall, Mavra Ahmed, Nicole Pearson, Zenong Yin, Lee M. Ashton, Carol Maher, Amanda E. Staiano, Chelsea E. Mauch, Ann DeSmet, Corneel Vandelanotte
Summary: This study presented a scoping review aimed at evaluating the current evidence level in the field of eHealth interventions. Analysis of 106 systematic reviews published between 2006 and 2019 revealed that most reviews evaluated the effectiveness of interventions, but the methodological quality of the majority of them was critically low.
Review
Anesthesiology
Daniel I. McIsaac, Marlyn Gill, Laura Boland, Brian Hutton, Karina Branje, Julia Shaw, Alexa L. Grudzinski, Natasha Barone, Chelsia Gillis
Summary: This umbrella review investigated the impact of prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes and found that it may improve functional recovery and reduce the risk of complications, non-home discharge, and length of stay. However, the certainty of the existing evidence is low, and more high-quality research is needed to support these findings.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ANAESTHESIA
(2022)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Anna Mae Scott, Paul Glasziou, Justin Clark
Summary: This study introduces a 2-week systematic review methodology (2weekSR) for completing comprehensive systematic reviews in a shorter time frame. The 2weekSR methodology can be adapted for larger and more complex reviews, and it accommodates team members with varying levels of experience. Compared to traditional systematic reviews, the 2weekSR methodology offers time-saving benefits without relying on methodological shortcuts associated with rapid reviews.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Nathalia Sernizon Guimaraes, Andrea J. F. Ferreira, Rita de Cassia Ribeiro Silva, Adelzon Assis de Paula, Cinthia Soares Lisboa, Laio Magno, Maria Yury Ichiara, Mauricio Lima Barreto
Summary: This study examined the accuracy measures of a set of automated deduplication tools in the eligibility process of systematic reviews. The results showed that Rayyan, Mendeley, and SRA were accurate enough for the deduplication step, while EndNote X9 and Zotero had lower sensitivity and PPV.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Tamara Lotfi, Anisa Hajizadeh, Lorenzo Moja, Elie A. Akl, Thomas Piggott, Tamara Kredo, Miranda W. Langendam, Alfonso Iorio, Miloslav Klugar, Jitka Klugarova, Ignacio Neumann, Wojtek Wiercioch, Grigorios Leontiadis, Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Alexis F. Turgeon, Joerg Meerpohl, Adrienne Stevens, Jan Brozek, Nancy Santesso, Kevin Pottie, Omar Dewidar, Signe A. Flottorp, Justine Karpusheff, Zuleika Saz-Parkinson, Maria X. Rojas, Elena Parmelli, Derek K. Chu, Peter Tugwell, Vivian Welch, Marc T. Avey, Romina Brignardello-Petersen, Joseph L. Mathew, Zachary Munn, Robby Nieuwlaat, Nathan Ford, Amir Qaseem, Lisa M. Askie, Holger J. Schunemann
Summary: This study proposes a taxonomy and framework to identify and present actionable statements in guidelines. By reviewing case studies and testing the framework using COVID-19 guidelines, the study distinguishes five types of actionable statements. The results suggest that the framework can help guideline developers create actionable statements with clear intent, avoid informal recommendations, and improve understanding and implementation by users.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kevin Pottie, Maureen Smith, Micayla Matthews, Nancy Santesso, Olivia Magwood, Tamara Kredo, Sarah Scott, Kerin Bayliss, Ammar Saad, Rinila Haridas, Nicole Detambel, Ashley Motilall, Yvonne Tan, Sally Steinberg, Justyna Litynska, Bart Dietl, Alfonso Ioiri, Ludovic Reveiz, Vivian Welch, Miloslav Klugar, Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Maria Ximena Rojas, Ivan D. Florez, Tamara Lotfi, Amir Qaseem, Joseph L. Mathew, Elie A. Akl, Peter Tugwell, Holger J. Schunemann
Summary: This study aims to develop a digital communication tool to improve the implementation of COVID-19 recommendations. The study involves multi-stakeholder engagement and provides three plain language recommendation formats. The results indicate that this approach is effective in enhancing guideline communication and understanding.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lindi Mathebula, Lovemore Mapahla, Dilyara Nurkhametova, Liliya Eugenevna Ziganshina, Mikateko Mazinu, Esme Jordan, Duduzile Edith Ndwandwe, Tamara Kredo
Summary: This study aims to identify and describe TB trials conducted in BRICS countries, evaluate selective outcome reporting, and examine publication time. Most trials focus on drug treatment, but only a small fraction of them are published.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Anwaar Baobeid, Tara Faghani-Hamadani, Sara Sauer, Yap Boum, Bethany L. Hedt-Gauthier, Nicholas Neufeld, Jackline Odhiambo, Jimmy Volmink, Miriam Shuchman, Erica Di Ruggiero, Jeanine U. Condo
Summary: It is more difficult for women researchers to publish in academic journals than men, especially for those in low-income and middle-income countries. A study on sub-Saharan African women researchers revealed a gender inequity in prestigious authorship positions, with men dominating as first authors, last authors, and single authors. However, the gender discrepancy in journal leadership does not necessarily contribute to the inequities faced by women researchers.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Solange Durao, Jacob Burns, Bey-Marrie Schmidt, David Tumusiime, Ameer Hohlfeld, Lisa Pfadenhauer, Clemence Ongolo-Zogo, Eva Rehfuess, Tamara Kredo
Summary: This study assessed the effects of infrastructure, policy, and regulatory interventions on promoting physical activity. The results showed varying effects on physical activity, body weight, and blood pressure, with low certainty of evidence. However, providing access to physical activity facilities may be beneficial. Implementation of these interventions needs to consider contextual factors, especially in low resource settings.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Flavia Moraes Silva, Amanda Rodrigues Amorim Adegboye, Cintia Curioni, Fabio S. Gomes, Gary Stephen Collins, Gilberto Kac, Jennifer A. De Beyer, Jonathan Alistair Cook, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Matthew J. Page, Neha Khandpur, Sarah Lamb, Sally Hopewell, Shona Kirtley, Solange Durao, Colby J. Vorland, Michael M. Schlussel
Summary: This study aims to investigate the reporting completeness of published protocols of diet or nutrition-related RCTs and identify the main reporting limitations in this field. A meta-research study will be conducted on RCT protocols published between 2012 and 2022, and the reporting completeness will be assessed using the SPIRIT and TIDieR statements. The results of this study will be disseminated to stakeholders involved in nutrition research.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Flavia Silva, Amanda Rodrigues Amorim Adegboye, Carl Lachat, Cintia Curioni, Fabio Gomes, Gary S. Collins, Gilberto Kac, Jennifer Anne de Beyer, Jonathan Cook, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Matthew Page, Neha Khandpur, Sarah Lamb, Sally Hopewell, Shona Kirtley, Solange Durao, Colby J. Vorland, Michael M. Schlussel
Summary: Two independent meta-research studies aim to assess the reporting completeness and limitations of diet-and nutrition-related RCTs and meta-analyses. A sample of RCTs and meta-analyses published in PubMed-indexed journals were selected for data extraction, and the results will be presented in descriptive statistics. The studies are expected to be completed by the beginning of 2023.
JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
N. Gloeck, A. Jaca, T. Kredo, G. Calligaro
Summary: In this Cochrane Corner, the main findings of a Cochrane Review on anticoagulants for COVID-19 patients are highlighted, along with their implications for research and practice in South Africa. There is a need for more high-quality randomized controlled trials to compare different intensities of anticoagulation in COVID-19 patients. Individuals in the ICU and those hospitalized with other illnesses who are incidentally infected with SARS-CoV-2 should still receive prophylactic-dose low-molecular-weight heparin.
SOUTHERN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF CRITICAL CARE
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Ana Beatriz Pizarro, Emma Persad, Solange Durao, Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit, Jean S. Engela-Volker, Damien McElvenny, Sarah Rhodes, Katie Stocking, Tony Fletcher, Craig Martin, Kukuh Noertjojo, Olivia Sampson, Jos H. Verbeek, Karsten Juhl Jorgensen, Matteo Bruschettini
Summary: Research aims to evaluate the benefits and risks of interventions in non-healthcare-related workplaces to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Studies on elimination of exposure interventions and personal protective equipment are limited, and more controlled studies are needed to understand the important implications of testing and isolation strategies for work organizations.
COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Celeste E. Naude, Amanda Brand, Anel Schoonees, Kim A. Nguyen, Marty Chaplin, Jimmy Volmink
Summary: Debates on effective and safe diets for managing obesity in adults continue, with comparisons between low-carbohydrate and balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets showing little to no significant difference in weight reduction and changes in cardiovascular risk factors up to two years for overweight and obese adults without and with T2DM.
COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Anel Schoonees, Joy Oliver, Dachi Arikpo, Solange Durao, Emmanuel Effa, Ameer Hohlfeld, Tamara Kredo, Charles Shey Wiysonge, Taryn Young
Summary: The study investigated the publication patterns of Cochrane authors from sub-Saharan Africa, finding that most authors were from South Africa and Nigeria, with a faster increase in non-Cochrane reviews and about a quarter of reviews covering infectious disease topics.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Michael McCaul, Solange Durao, Tamara Kredo, Paul Garner, Taryn Young, Anke Rohwer
Summary: The paper discusses the transition from face-to-face workshops to online learning for postgraduate training, emphasizing the need for a balanced team of technical and content knowledge, learning strategies that match content delivery, and considerations for limited internet access in resource-poor settings in Africa.
BMJ EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE
(2021)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Guy Sadeu Wafeu, Tamara Kredo, Solange Durao, Joy Oliver, Charles Shey Wiysonge, Pierre Ongolo Zogo
PAN AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2021)