Comparing Energy-Based Devices for Striae Improvement: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Striae distensae (SD) are cutaneous lesions that are caused by hormones or mechanical stress leading to rapid expansion of skin. Therefore, SD are now a cosmetic concern. However, improving SD is notoriously difficult. Among different treatments, energy-based devices (EBDs) are much more effective and controllable. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to determine the most effective type of EBD for improving the appearance of striae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The population comprised patients suffering from striae. Different types of EBDs used to improve striae were compared. The primary outcome of the reduction in the width of striae was evaluated. A random-effects model was performed. The means and standard deviations were extracted. RESULTS: Eighteen randomized controlled trials were included. The network meta-analysis revealed that after a comparison among the 4 types of EBDs, no significant differences were observed in the reduction of striae width. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency, ablative lasers, nonablative lasers, and intense pulsed light are all effective treatments for reducing the striae width. None of them was superior to the others. However, radiofrequency and ablative lasers may have the highest chance of improving the appearance of striae.

The effectiveness of case management and nursing counselling among caregivers of patients with dementia: A pilot study.

According to the data released by the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2021, in 2019, 235,000 patients sought medical treatment for dementia-related diseases at the National-Health-Insurance-participating hospitals and clinics for more than three outpatient visits or had been hospitalised, and the number had increased by 15,000 from the previous year (Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2021). This implies that families are affected, causing tremendous physical, psychological, and economic pressures and burdens on the caregivers and families of the patient. The estimated social cost of caring for dementia families increased from $1.3 trillion in 2019 to $2.8 trillion in 2030 (World Health Organisation, 2021). Thus, long-term care for the dementia population has become a critical issue in medical care and social services in Taiwan and worldwide. In 2017, Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare has been starting Dementia care policy with 10 years long-term care plan through set up dementia care centre. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of dementia care centre for reducing the burden and improving the quality of life for caregivers of dementia patients. This pilot study adopts a quasi-experimental research design and uses purposive sampling to select in house informal caregivers of dementia patients who are part of a dementia collaborative care programme at a medical centre in the northern region and were willing to participate in this study. Upon enrolment in the study, subjects were given a pre-test, followed by a one-hour face-to-face nursing consultation and assessment after 2 weeks. Subsequently, a telephone nursing consultation was conducted once a month for 3 months. Two weeks after completing all counselling sessions, a post-test was administered to measure the caregiver burden with The Chinese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory and the quality of life for caregivers with The 'Chinese Health Questionnaire CHQ-12'. After providing case management and nursing counselling, the total caregiver burden score significantly decreased from an average of 40.1 (SD = 21.6) at the pre-test to an average of 38.6 (SD = 21.4) at the post-test, reaching statistical significance (p < 0.01). The results of this study showed that providing dementia caregivers with case management and nursing consultation services helps improve the overall caregiver burden (particularly emotional burden and physical burden) as well as the health questionnaire scores. However, the social burden and time burden did not improve after receiving case management and counselling among caregivers; instead, post-test scores of these aspects were significantly higher.

Cold intervention for relieving migraine symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of the cold intervention on relieving migraine symptoms among adult patients with migraine. DESIGNS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) and non-RCT studies were performed. DATA SOURCES: We searched five electronic databases including Cochrane Library and Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus and CINAHL from the date of inception to March 2021. REVIEW METHODS: Research was eligible for the systematic review if they included adult patients with migraine, using cold regimen as intervention, and outcomes measuring the symptom alleviation of migraine. Two researchers independently conducted the searching process and data extraction. The certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE approach to the main outcomes was used. The PRISMA checklist was used to assure the quality and transparency of report. RESULTS: Six studies (4 RCTs and 2 non-RCTs) met the inclusion criteria. The cold interventions on migraine alleviation include a cold-gel headband, cold-gel cap, intraoral cooling, skin temperature biofeedback and cold wrap accompanied by massage. Compared to non-cold regimens, the cold interventions had a short-term effect on reducing migraine pain rated on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score at 30 min after intervention (Std. mean difference [SMD] -3.21; 95% CI -5.94, -0.48). Compared to the non-cold regimens, the cold interventions had marginal long-term effects on relieving migraine pain VAS score (SMD -0.44; 95% CI -0.91, 0.03) and nausea (SMD -0.56; 95% CI -1.17, 0.04) (24 h after intervention). The GRADE indicated that the certainty of evidence was rated from very low to moderate. Insufficient results on the outcomes of nausea and vomiting were discovered for the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Cold intervention is an effective regimen to reduce migraine pain instantly. The long-term effect of cold interventions on migraine is not demonstrated. The effects of cold interventions on nausea and vomiting need more studies to verify.

The effect of virtual reality on cognitive, affective, and psychomotor outcomes in nursing staffs: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In the healthcare systems of the world, reinforcing the competence and professionalism of nurses has become a concern. Gaining clinical nursing competence in the healthcare system requires more effort, and additional training is required. Medical education and training have begun using digital technologies, such as virtual reality (VR). The purpose of this research was to examine the efficacy of VR in terms of cognitive, emotional, and psychomotor outcomes and learning satisfaction in nurses. METHOD: The study searched eight databases (Cochrane library, EBSCOHost, Embase, OVID MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) for articles that met these criteria: (i) nursing staff, (ii) any virtual reality technology intervention for education, all levels of immersion, [1] randomized control trial and quasi-experiment study, and (iv) published articles and unpublished theses. The standardized mean difference was measured. The random effect model was applied to measure the main outcome of the study with a significance level of p < .05. The I2 statistic assessment was applied to identify the level of heterogeneity of the study. RESULTS: A total of 6740 studies were identified, of which 12 studies with 1470 participants met the criteria for inclusion. The meta-analysis showed a significant improvement in the cognitive aspect (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.48; 95% CI = 0.33-2.63; p = .011, I2 = 94.88%), the affective aspect (SMD = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.34-0.86; p < .001, I2 = 34.33%), the psychomotor aspect (SMD = 0.901; 95% CI = 0.49-1.31; p < .001, I2 = 80.33%), and learning satisfaction (SMD = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.17-0.77; p = .002, I2 = 0%) aspects of the groups that received the VR intervention compared to the control groups. Subgroup analysis found that dependent variables (e.g., level of immersion) did not improve study outcomes. The quality of evidence was low which is affected by major methodological issues. CONCLUSIONS: VR may favorable as alternative method to increase nurse competencies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on larger samples are needed to strengthen the evidence for the effect of VR in various clinical nurse settings. ROSPERO registration number: CRD42022301260.

Incidence of postoperative delirium in older adults undergoing surgical procedures: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: With the increase in life expectancy around the globe, the incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) among older people (≥65 years) is growing. Previous studies showed a wide variation in the incidence of POD, from 4% to 53%, with a lack of specific evidence about the incidence of POD by specific surgery type among older people. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the incidence of POD by surgery type within populations 65 years and over. METHODS: Databases including PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, and CINAHL were searched until October 2020. Due to the relatively higher number of meta-analyses undertaken in this area of research, a streamlined systematic meta-analysis was proposed. RESULTS: A total of 28 meta-analyses (comprising 284 individual studies) were reviewed. Data from relevant individual studies (n = 90) were extracted and included in the current study. Studies were grouped into eight surgery types and the incidence of POD for orthopedic, vascular, spinal, cardiac, colorectal, abdominal, urologic, and mixed surgeries was 20%, 14%, 13%, 32%, 14%, 30%, 10%, and 26%, respectively. POD detection instruments were different across the studies, with Confusion Assessment Method (CAM & CAM-ICU) being the most frequently adopted. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: This study showed that POD incidence in older people undergoing surgery varied widely across surgery type. The more complex surgeries like cardiac and abdominal surgeries were associated with a higher risk of POD. This highlights the need to include the level of surgery complexity as a risk factor in preoperative assessments.

Efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin for treating sialorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sialorrhea often happens in patients with neurologic disorders, and botulinum toxin (BoNT), which inhibits acetylcholine activation, may be an effective treatment for drooling. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BoNT in adults and children with sialorrhea due to neurological disorders. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant studies published before August 2021. The pooled estimate of outcomes was calculated using a random effect model. RESULTS: The review included 17 studies involving 981 patients. Compared with placebo, both BoNT type A (BoNT-A) and BoNT type B (BoNT-B) alleviated drooling frequency and severity (mean difference, 95% CI; BoNT-A: -1.20, -1.89 to -0.51; BoNT-B: -1.62, -2.07 to -1.17), reduced saliva weight (BoNT-A: -1.70, -2.30 to -1.10; BoNT-B: -1.12, -1.97 to -0.27), and improved global impression of change (BoNT-A: -1.30, -1.73 to -0.86; BoNT-B: -1.58, -1.95 to -1.21) in adults 4 weeks postinjection. BoNT-B remained effective at 12 weeks. In children, BoNT-A and BoNT-B alleviated sialorrhea symptoms (BoNT-A: -1.63, -2.42 to -0.85; BoNT-B: -5.20, -6.03 to -4.37) and BoNT-A reduced saliva weight (-0.77, -1.54 to 0.00) at 4 weeks postinjection. After 12 weeks, BoNT-B remained efficacious. Most adverse effects (AEs) were mild to moderate and self-limited. CONCLUSIONS: There is moderate certainty of evidence (COE) that either BoNT-A or BoNT-B could relieve sialorrhea after 4 and 12 weeks of follow-up without significantly more severe AEs in adults. However, the COE is very low to low in children.

Combination of radiofrequency ablation and percutaneous ethanol injection versus radiofrequency ablation alone for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation and percutaneous ethanol injection are important treatment modalities for hepatocellular carcinoma patients; Whether a combination treatment yields, additional benefit still remains controversial. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was concluded. Randomized controlled trials published before January 1, 2022, from PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and CNKI were searched. Studies were excluded when patients received different ablative treatment or had serious liver dysfunction. The risk of bias assessment was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. RESULTS: Ten studies, encompassing 854 patients, with histologically proven HCC were finally analyzed. The results demonstrated that patients who received RFA-PEI had slightly improvements in 1-year overall survival (OS) [risk ratio (RR): 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.19, I2 = 10%], 2-year OS (RR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.40, I2 = 0%), 3-year OS (RR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.83, I2 = 38%), 1-year local recurrence-free (LRF) proportion (RR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.42, I2 = 61%), and complete tumor necrosis (CTN) (RR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.53, I2 = 45%). Nevertheless, common complications, such as fever, were found to be significant (RR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.80). CONCLUSION: Despite RFA-PEI appearing to be superior for HCC patients with a compensated liver in terms of OS, current evidence contained moderate to significant heterogeneity, and it was difficult to draw a definite conclusion regarding the therapeutic management in terms of LRF and CTN.

The Effect of Paternal Skin-to-Skin Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Control Trials.

BACKGROUND: Research about skin-to-skin care (SSC) experiences in early period after birth has focused on mothers and infants. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the outcomes of paternal skin-to-skin care (P-SSC) in both fathers and infants. METHODS: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Airiti Library, and Google Scholar were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported outcomes of P-SSC in both fathers and infants. We calculated pooled mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using RevMan 5.3 for the meta-analysis [PROSPERO: CRD42018106790]. RESULTS: Seven RCTs including a total of 552 participants were eligible for inclusion. Compared to the maternal skin-to-skin care (M-SSC), fathers in the P-SSC exhibited no significant differences in salivary oxytocin levels (MD: -0.35 pg/mL; 95% CI: -0.75, 0.05), salivary cortisol levels (MD: 0.25 µg/dL; 95% CI: -0.82, 1.33), or anxiety scores (MD: -0.17; 95% CI: -0.57, 0.22) during the period of SSC. Similarly, there were no significant differences in the salivary cortisol levels (MD: -0.11 µg/dL; 95% CI: -0.05, 0.28) among preterm infants between the 2 groups. However, the crying time was less among full-term infants in the P-SSC group compared with infants in the incubator care or cot care groups. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: P-SSC had similar effects as M-SSC on stress-related outcomes during and after SSC among fathers and infants in the early stages after birth. We recommend that P-SSC be implemented in the early stages after birth. Further RCTs with a longitudinal design and large samples are needed to better understand the long-term effects of P-SSC on fathers and infants.

The effect of cricoid pressure on tracheal intubation in adult patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of cricoid pressure (CP) application on intubation outcomes. SOURCE: Electronic databases (i.e., MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane review) were searched from inception to 2 June 2020 for randomized-controlled trials that assessed the intubation outcomes in adult patients using laryngoscopic approaches with and without the application of CP (i.e., CP vs non-CP group). The primary outcome was the successful first-attempt intubation rate (SFAIR), and the secondary outcomes were intubation time, incidences of poor laryngoscopic views (i.e., Cormack and Lehane grade 3-4), airway complications, and pulmonary aspiration. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of five trials (published from 2005 to 2018) were included, and all tracheal intubations were performed by anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists with a video (n = 3) or Macintosh laryngoscope (n = 2) in the operating room. We found no significant difference in SFAIR (risk ratio [RR], 0.98; P = 0.37), incidence of poor laryngoscopic views (RR, 1.49; P = 0.21), and risk of sore throat (RR, 1.17; P = 0.73) between the two groups. Nevertheless, the intubation time on the first successful attempt was slightly longer (weighted mean difference = 4.40 sec, P = 0.002) and risk of hoarseness was higher (RR, 1.70; P = 0.03) in the CP group compared with in the non-CP group. The secondary outcome "pulmonary aspiration" was not analyzed because only one trial was available. CONCLUSION: The application of CP did not have a negative impact on the SFAIR or laryngoscopic view. Nevertheless, this maneuver may slightly prolong intubation time and increase the risk of postoperative hoarseness.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF : Cette méta-analyse a pour but d'évaluer l'impact de l'application d'une pression cricoïdienne (PC) sur les résultats de l'intubation. SOURCE : Les bases de données électroniques (c.-à-d., MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, et Cochrane review) ont été examinées de leur création jusqu'au 2 juin 2020 pour en tirer les études randomisées contrôlées évaluant les résultats d'intubation chez les patients adultes utilisant des approches laryngoscopiques avec ou sans application de PC (soit groupe PC et non-PC). Le critère d'évaluation principal était le taux d'intubations réussies à la première tentative, et les critères secondaires incluaient le temps d'intubation, l'incidence de mauvaises vues laryngoscopies (grades 3-4 de Cormack et Lehane), les complications au niveau des voies aériennes et l'aspiration pulmonaire. CONSTATATIONS PRINCIPALES : Cinq études au total (publiées entre 2005 et 2018) ont été incluses, et toutes les intubations trachéales ont été réalisées par des anesthésiologistes ou infirmiers anesthésistes à l'aide d'un vidéolaryngoscope (n = 3) ou d'une lame de Macintosh (n = 2) en salle d'opération. Nous n'avons trouvé aucune différence significative dans le taux d'intubations réussies à la première tentative (risque relatif [RR], 0,98; P = 0,37), dans l'incidence de mauvaises vues laryngoscopiques (RR, 1,49; P = 0,21) ou dans le risque de maux de gorge (RR, 1,17; P = 0,73) entre les deux groupes. En revanche, le temps d'intubation lors de la première tentative réussie était légèrement plus long (différence moyenne pondérée = 4,40 sec, P = 0,002) et le risque d'enrouement était plus élevé (RR, 1,70; P = 0,03) dans le groupe PC que dans le groupe non-PC. Le critère d'évaluation secondaire « aspiration pulmonaire ¼ n'a pas été analysé parce qu'une seule étude le mesurait. CONCLUSION : L'application de PC n'a pas eu d'impact négatif sur le taux d'intubations réussies à la première tentative ou la vue laryngoscopique. Par contre, cette manœuvre pourrait légèrement prolonger le temps d'intubation et augmenter le risque d'enrouement postopératoire.

Comparison of maternal and fetal outcomes between delayed and immediate pushing in the second stage of vaginal delivery: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The second stage of labor begins with complete dilatation of the cervix until delivery of the fetus. After the cervix has fully dilated, the caregiver/nurse will provide guidance to the mother regarding the push technique for delivering the fetus (immediate pushing, IP). Because some women receive analgesic medications during labor, they might not be able to push correctly. Therefore, some obstetricians choose to postpone guiding the patient to push until the cervix is fully dilated and the fetal head has begun to descend. At this point, there is an involuntary exertion sensation (delayed pushing, DP) that saves energy and, at the same time, decreases tiredness and fatigue. The best timing for pushing during the second stage of labor is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the different maternal and neonatal outcomes with IP and DP in the second stage of labor. METHODS: The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, and Airiti Library (a Chinese database) were searched up to July 2019. Search keywords included: "labor stage, second", "delayed pushing", and "immediate pushing". Gray literature and bibliographies of articles were checked. No language restrictions were applied. Only randomized controlled trials were included. Two independent reviewers identified relevant studies and extracted data. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane's Risk of Bias tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool results. Mean differences and risk ratios were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Review Manager 5.3 (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2014). The risk of heterogeneity was reported as I2, and publication bias was visually assessed by funnel plots. RESULTS: In total, 15 studies (n = 6121 participants) were identified. Pooled results demonstrated the following. (1) As to maternal outcomes, in comparison, IP shortened the length of the second stage of labor by 40.9 (95% CI 23.6-58.2) min; however, DP decreased the total length of pushing by 25.4 (95% CI 13.9-37.0) min. The incidence of instrument-assisted vaginal delivery was significantly lower in the DP group in western countries (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.97). In addition, the maternal postpartum fatigue score was 0.67 points lower in the DP group (95% CI - 1.09 to - 0.26). There was no statistical significance of the cesarean section rate or blood loss. (2) As to neonatal outcomes (Apgar score at 1 min), the DP group showed a higher score (by 0.19; 95% CI 0.10-0.27 points) than the IP group. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed pushing can decrease the total pushing time and decrease the fatigue score after delivery without significant adverse events compared to the early pushing group. Therefore, we recommend that caregivers instruct the pushing time at the optimal moment, which allows women to have more resting time and save energy during labor.

Can foot reflexology be a complementary therapy for sleep disturbances? Evidence appraisal through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIMS: To systematically summarize and quantify the effects of foot reflexology on improvements in sleep disturbances. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Datasets including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, CINAHL and two Chinese electronic databases (i.e., AiritiLibrary and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were used to search from their inception to 31 January 2019. REVIEW METHODS: Studies which were randomized controlled trials that reported changes in sleep disturbances after the intervention among adults over 18 years old and written in the English or Chinese language were included. Two reviewers' independently assessed the eligibility, extracted data, and conducted a quality assessment. Based on the extracted data, two separate meta-analyses were performed. RESULTS: Forty-two articles with a total sample of 3,928 participants were included in the systematic review and were eligible for the meta-analysis. The most commonly employed outcome measurement tool was the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, followed by the therapeutic effect between the intervention and control groups (as evaluated by participants with sleep problems compared with those without sleep problems in each group after the intervention). Results revealed that foot reflexology resulted in a greater reduction in the sleep quality score compared with the controls (Hedges' g = -1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.81~-0.94). As for the therapeutic effect, participants in the intervention group were less likely to have sleep problems than those in the control group (pooled odds ratio = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.19 ~ 0.31). CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that foot reflexology produced significant improvements in sleep disturbances. IMPACT: Foot reflexology is a non-invasive and convenient intervention and regularly receiving foot reflexology can be considered complementary therapy to improve the sleep quality of adults with sleep disturbances. Furthermore, healthcare providers can actively press the solar plexus and heart zones to alleviate sleep disturbances when performing foot reflexology.

Effects of a simulation-based education programme on delirium care for critical care nurses: A randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: To evaluate the effects of a simulation-based education programme on critical care nurses' knowledge, confidence, competence and clinical performance in providing delirium care. DESIGN: Single-blinded randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Registered nurses who work in intensive care units were recruited from a university-affiliated acute major metropolitan teaching hospital. The intervention group received: (i) five online-learning delirium care videos, (ii) one face-to-face delirium care education session and (iii) a simulation-based education programme with a role-play scenario-based initiative and an objective structured clinical examination. The control group received only online videos which were the same as those provided to the intervention group. Delirium care knowledge, confidence, competence, and clinical performance as outcomes were collected at: baseline, immediately after intervention, and within 6 weeks post-intervention to test whether there were any changes and if they were sustained over time. Data were collected between 2 October and 29 December 2020. The repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to examine for changes in delirium care knowledge, confidence, and competence within groups. RESULTS: Seventy-two critical care nurses participated with 36 each allocated to the intervention group and control group. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in outcome variables at 6 weeks post-intervention. In the intervention group, significant within-group changes were observed in terms of delirium care knowledge, confidence, and competence over time. By contrast, no significant changes were observed in outcome measures over time in the control group. CONCLUSION: The simulation-based education programme is an effective and feasible strategy to improve delirium care by enhancing the knowledge, confidence, competence and clinical performance of critical care nurses. IMPACT: Our findings provide evidence regarding the development and implementation of a simulation-based education programme in hospitals for health professional education in Taiwan.

Using Vibrating and Cold Device for Pain Relieves in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: Needle procedures are the most common source of pain, anxiety, and fear among children. A combination of a cooling ice-pack and/or a vibrating motor for pain management in children has been evaluated in trials, but their overall effects await a synthesis of the available evidence. METHOD: Comprehensive search was conducted using Cochrane, PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Airiti. We calculated pooled risk ratios (RR), mean difference (MD) and 95% CI using RevMan 5.3. A meta-regression was conducted to investigate the effects of mean age on MD of pain. RESULTS: A total of 1479 children from 16 publications were included. Compared with the control group, using cold-vibrating device significantly decreased pain level above the age of 2 (MD -3.03, 95% CI: -3.38, -2.68), as well as lower anxiety level among parents (MD -1.3, 95% CI: -1.9, -0.7). Meta-regression demonstrated a significant negative correlation of pain score with age. For children at 8.5 years, cold-vibration reduced the pain score by 0.13 averagely for every increment in year compared with controls (MD -0.13; 95% CI: -0.25, -0.01). No adverse events were reported in included studies. DISCUSSION: The cold-vibrating device reduced pain levels significantly among children without adverse effects. Variation of factors might contribute to the heterogeneity of our study, such as age, different needle procedures, psychological strategies…etc. CONCLUSIONS: Cool-vibration treatment reduced pain levels in children who underwent needle procedures and the treatment appears more effective in older children. The device is promising in clinical setting due to its non-invasiveness and ease of usage.

Delirium care knowledge in critical care nurses: A multiple-choice question-based quiz.

BACKGROUND: Lack of evidence regarding whether a useful examination instrument such as an multiple choice question (MCQ) quiz is reliable for assessing delirium care knowledge. AIM: To develop and psychometrically test a MCQ-based quiz for assessing the delirium care knowledge in critical care nurses. DESIGN: Instrument development and psychometric evaluation study. METHODS: The development and validation process consisted of two phases. The first Phase focused on the quiz development, which was achieved through the following steps: (a) generation of an initial 20-item pool; (b) assessment of content validity; (c) assessment of face validity; (d) conduction of a pilot test, involving the collection of data from 217 critical care nurses through an online survey; and (e) item analysis and item elimination according to item difficulty and discrimination indices. The MCQ quiz was finalized through the development process. The second phase emphasized quiz validation through estimation of the internal consistency, split-half and test-retest reliability, and construct validity using parallel analysis with exploratory factor analysis (EFA). RESULTS: A final 16-item MCQ quiz was emerged from the item analysis. The Kuder-Richardson formula 20 coefficient for the overall quiz indicated good internal consistency (0.85), and the intraclass correlation coefficient with a 30-day interval also indicated that the questionnaire had satisfactory stability (0.97). EFA confirmed that the quiz had appropriate construct validity, and four factors could explain 60.87% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: In this study, the MCQ, and single best answer quiz for assessing delirium care knowledge was developed, and its reliability and validity for this purpose were demonstrated. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study introduced an evidence-based quiz designed for future use in delirium care research and education that has significant implications for MCQ-based knowledge assessment in clinical practice.

Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients: A Systematic Review of Assessment and Incidence of Postoperative Delirium.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium is the most common complication of surgery particularly in older patients. AIMS: The current study aimed to summarize the commonly used delirium assessment tools in assessing postoperative delirium (POD) and to estimate the incidence rates of POD. METHODS: A systematic review that included empirical cohort studies reporting the use of delirium assessment tools in assessing POD between 2000 and 2019. Five core databases were searched for eligible studies. The methodological quality assessment of the included studies was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist to examine the risk of bias. Pooled incidence estimates were calculated using a random effects model. RESULTS: Nineteen studies with a total of 3,533 postsurgery older patients were included in this review. The confusion assessment method (CAM) and CAM-ICU were the most commonly used tools to assess POD among older postoperative patients. The pooled incidence rate of POD was 24% (95% CI [0.20, 0.29]). The pooled incidence estimates for mixed (noncardiac) surgery, orthopedic surgery, and tumor surgery were 23% (95% CI [0.15, 0.31]), 27% (95% CI [0.20, 0.33]), and 19% (95% CI [0.15, 0.22]), respectively. More than 50% of included studies used CAM to assess POD in different types of postoperative patients. Using CAM to assess delirium is less time-consuming and it was suggested as the most efficient tool for POD detection. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: We identified that CAM could be implemented in different settings for assessing POD. The incidence and risk factors for POD introduced can be used for future research to target these potential indicators. The incidence rate, risk factors, and predictors of POD explored can provide robust evidence for clinical practitioners in their daily practice.

Exploring the efficacy of using hypertonic saline for nebulizing treatment in children with bronchiolitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled hypertonic saline (HS) has shown benefit in decreasing airway edema in acute bronchiolitis which is the most common lower respiratory infection resulting in dyspnea among infants under 2 years old. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HS in the implementation of treatment with nebulized HS among children with bronchiolitis. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE and Airiti Library (Chinese Database) for randomized controlled trials from inception to July 2019. We calculated pooled risk ratios (RR), mean difference (MD) and 95% CI using RevMan 5.3 for meta-analysis. RESULTS: There were 4186 children from 32 publications included. Compared to the control group, the HS group exhibited significant reduction of severity of respiratory distress, included studies used the Clinical Severity Score (n = 8; MD, - 0.71; 95% CI, - 1.15 to - 0.27; I2 = 73%) and full stop after Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (n = 5; MD, - 0.60; 95% CI, - 0.95 to - 0.26; I2 = 0%) for evaluation respectively. Further, the HS group decreased the length of hospital stay 0.54 days (n = 20; MD, - 0.54; 95% CI, - 0.86 to - 0.23; I2 = 81%). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that nebulization with 3% saline solution is effective in decreasing the length of hospital stay and the severity of symptoms as compared with 0.9% saline solution among children with acute bronchiolitis. Further rigorous randomized controlled trials with large sample size are needed.

Does hyoscine N-butylbromide shorten the active phase in labor? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of hyoscine N-butylbromide (HBB) in active phase of labor and its safety to mother and fetus. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted on Cochrane Library, Pubmed, EMBASE, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov and three databases in Chinese up to March 31, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of HBB administration during the active phase for shortening of spontaneous labor at term compared with placebo were included. Two reviewers assessed the methodological quality and data extraction independently. We calculated pooled risk ratios (RRs), mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Review Manager 5.3 software. Intention-to-treat principles and random-effects model were adopted for analysis and pool results. RESULTS: In total, 1448 women from 9 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. The HBB group exhibited significantly decreased durations of active phase (MD -61.1 min; 95% CI: -87.7 to -34.4, I2 : 96%), the second stage (MD -2.0 min; 95% CI: -3.4 to -0.5, I2 : 62%), and third stage (MD -0.7 min; 95% CI: -1.1 to -0.3, I2 : 51%). Intravenous (IV) HBB group and intramuscularly (IM) HBB group were compared to the control group (MD -60.9 min; 95% CI -87.7 to -34.1, I2 : 96%). No significant differences were observed in Cesarean section, post-partum hemorrhage, instrumental labor, Apgar scores or any adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Hyoscine N-butylbromide had a significant effect of shortening the duration of the active phase of labor without adverse effects. We recommend a single dose of intravenous administrated HBB when a woman undergoes labor augmentation.

Diagnostic Performance of Delirium Assessment Tools in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Critical care nurses are in the best position to detect and monitor delirium in critically ill patients. Therefore, an optimum delirium assessment tool with strong evidence should be identified with critical care nurses to perform in the daily assessment. AIM: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of delirium assessment tools in diagnosing delirium in critically ill patients. METHODS: We searched five electronic databases including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and a Chinese database for eligible diagnostic studies published in English or Mandarin up to December 2018. This diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis was limited to studies in intensive care unit (ICU) settings, using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a standard reference to test the accuracy of delirium assessment tools. Eligible studies were critically appraised by two investigators independently. The summary of evidence was conducted for pooling and comparing diagnostic accuracy by a bivariate random effects meta-analysis model. The pooled sensitivities and specificities, summary receiver operating characteristic curve (sROC), the area under the curve (AUC), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated and plotted. The possibility of publication bias was assessed by Deeks' funnel plot. DATA SYNTHESIS: We identified and evaluated 23 and 8 articles focused on CAM-ICU and ICDSC, respectively. The summary sensitivities of 0.85 and 0.87, and summary specificities of 0.95 and 0.91 were found for CAM-ICU and ICDSC, respectively. The AUC of the CAM-ICU was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.94-0.98), with DOR at 99 (95% CI, 55-177). The AUC of the ICDSC was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92-0.96), and the DOR was 65 (95% CI, 27-153). LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: CAM-ICU demonstrated higher diagnostic test accuracy and is recommended as the optimal delirium assessment tool. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the between-study heterogeneity of this diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis.