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Poster Community health interventions: are they effective?

Smith, Gelskey, Moffatt, Kaita
Introduction: In 1972 Cochrane advocated the widespread use of RCTs in community health, but subjective opinion suggests they may yet be under-used and lack methodologic rigor. Objective: To 1) identify all intervention studies in journals of community health and determine the number of RCTs and…

Poster Can brief interventions reduce alcohol consumption in drinkers at risk of alcohol related harm? A meta-analysis of clinical trials

Song, Freemantle, Sheldon, Webb
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of brief interventions to reduce alcohol consumption. Methods: Meta-analysis of randomised control trials located through MEDLINE & PSYCHLIT searches, manually checking reference lists, and consultation with clinical experts. Setting: Primary care.…

Poster How can systematic reviews of randomised trials be used for assessment of cost-effectiveness of surfactant treatment for neonatal respiratory distress?

Mugford, Soll, Jefferson
Discussion: There is a growing recognition of the need both for economic evaluations to use the results of systematic reviews of effectiveness, and for trials to include measures required for economic evaluation. It is therefore important to think about how reviews of such trials may inform…

Poster Diagnostic validity of clinical tests in temporomandibular disorders: a meta-analysis

Gross, Haines, Goldsmith, Mclntosh, Thomson
Introduction: The clinical diagnosis is considered the essential first step in patient management for temporomandibular disorders. However, the diagnostic accuracy of these tests is not clear. This meta-analysis determined the validity of clinical diagnostic tests for the diagnostic subgroup…

Poster The efficacy of aldose reductase inhibitors in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a meta-analysis

Nicolucci, Carinci, Cavaliere, Liberati
Introduction: Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common and disabling longterm sequaelae of diabetes mellitus. Typical manifestations are represented by loss of sensation in the feet, development of ulcers, deformations, and finally, gangrene, often resulting in amputations. A likely…

Poster Evolving methodological guidelines for systematic reviews of randomized control trials in health care

Cook, Sackett, Spitzer
Discussion: Methodologic guides for the conduct of systematic reviews are continuing to evolve. One recent contribution took place at the Postdam Consultation on Meta-analysis in March 1994. Beginning with prior guidelines and submissions from conference participants, we developed the next…

Poster The efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for shoulder complaints. A blinded review

van, van, Scholten, Koes, Bouter
Introduction: Evidence on the efficacy of NSAIDs for shoulder complaints is scarce. Nevertheless, therapy is frequently initiated with the prescription of NSAIDs. Objective: To evaluate the medical literature with respect to the efficacy of NSAIDs for shoulder complaints. Methods: The search…

Poster The efficacy of back schools: a review of randomized clinical trials

Koes, van, van, Bouter
Introduction: Back schools were introduced in the seventies' as treatment modality for patients with back pain. Nowadays back schools (in different forms and intensity) are available and frequently used in many countries. Objective: To assess the efficacy of back school programmes for low-…

Poster On the accuracy of history, physical examination and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in diagnosing low-back pain in general practice. A criteria-based review of the literature

van, Koes, van, Bouter
Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of history taking, physical examination, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in low-back pain in general practice, for radiculopathy, vertebral cancer, and ankylosing spondylitis. Methods: Review of the literature for studies presenting data on…

Poster Methodological quality of randomized clinical trials on treatment efficacy in low back pain

Koes, Bouter, van
Introduction: During the last decades the number of published randomized clinical trials in low-back pain has accumulated. For some interventions considerable numbers of trials are available. Trials have been shown to vary substantially regarding their quality. Objective: To assess the…

Poster Qualitative meta-analyses: improvement of markers for validity and precision

van, de, de, de, Koes
Introduction: In areas where clinical trials are heterogeneous with respect to population, interventions and outcome measures, qualitative or criteria based meta-analyses are an effective and informative way for aggregation of clinical trial results. A criteria list is used for the standardised…

Poster Therapy by physicians to stop tobacco smoking: assessment of the quality of trials

Thomas
Discussion: A MEDLINE Search revealed two meta-analyses of controlled trials. These trials and others are analysed. A meta-analysis of 39 trials before nicotine patch therapy became widely available found on average 8.4% fewer smokers at six months and 5.8% fewer at 12 months in the experimental…

Poster A proposed methodology for assessing the effectiveness of geriatric services

Cole, McCusker
Discussion: Given limited resources, there is increasing concern about the effectiveness of geriatric services. This paper presents a new methodology for assessing evidence of effectiveness of these services. This methodology, adapted from the analytic practices of the Canadian Task Force on the…

Poster The administration of intravenous immunoglobulin for prophylaxis or treatment in preterm infants: meta-analyses

Lacy, Ohlsson
Objective: To determine the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration to premature and/or treatment of bacterial infection. Methods: Studies were identified through computer searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCISEARCH and Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials and extensive hand…

Poster Do benzodiazepines work? A meta-analysis ordeal

Holbrook, Lotter, Crowther, Cheng, King
Introduction: There is considerable debate in the Literature, both scientific and lay, about the overall risk:benefit ratio of benzodiazepines, commonly used medications for insomnia and anxiety. Objective: We evaluated the feasibility of meta-analysis of the literature on therapeutic use, harm…