Care planning or case management for frequent emergency department attendance in adults This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effectiveness of case management or care planning for frequent attendance at emergency departments (EDs). To use subgroup analysis to assess the effectiveness of different types of intervention. This is a protocol....

Methods for promoting sleep in children and young people in hospital without using medicines (non-medicinal) Key messages We are uncertain how effective non-medicinal sleep promotion methods are for children and young people in hospital. Studies that use established, reliable research methods are needed to investigate non-medicinal sleep promotion in hospitalized children and young people, to identify methods that work. Why is sleep important for children in hospital? Sleep is an important part of healthy childhood development and helps to keep children healthy. Sleep patterns change...

Postoperative nutritional support after pancreaticoduodenectomy in adults This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of postoperative nutritional support strategies on complications and recovery in adults after pancreaticoduonectomy. This is a protocol....

Prophylactic arterial embolization in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers following endoscopic control of bleeding This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of prophylactic arterial embolization compared with endoscopic haemostasis only on the risk of re-bleeding for peptic ulcer bleeding, in patients where endoscopic haemostasis has been successful. This is a protocol....

Are systemic Janus kinase inhibitors an effective treatment for people with COVID-19? Key messages We found moderate- to high-certainty evidence from 6 studies to conclude that systemic Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are an effective treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in hospitalised people, because they resulted in fewer deaths and a lower rate of clinical deterioration. Evaluation of systemic JAK inhibitors is ongoing in 13 studies whilst the results of 9 further studies are awaiting publication. We will update this review and may adapt our conclusions when their results...

Digital technologies to help people with asthma take their medication as prescribed Background to the question Asthma is one of the most common long-term conditions worldwide. There are effective medicines available to treat symptoms, such as inhalers containing steroids. However, for best effect, maintenance medication need to be taken as prescribed. Many people do not take their medication, due to busy schedules and the belief that medication is only needed short-term. This is known as 'non-adherence', which can lead to more symptoms and attacks. Non-adherence is a major health problem;...

Rho kinase inhibitors for primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension Question What are the benefits and risks of rho kinase inhibitor eye drops to treat people with either glaucoma or increased eye pressure? Key messages Antiglaucomatous eye drops such as latanoprost and timolol may reduce the eye pressure more compared with treatment with a rho kinase inhibitor, but the difference with timolol is small. When combining rho kinase inhibitors with different types of medicine, the eye pressure may be reduced more. People treated with a rho kinase inhibitor experience more adverse...

Minimally invasive trabecular meshwork surgery for open-angle glaucoma This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of minimally invasive trabecular meshwork surgery in comparison to medical, laser, or surgical treatment (including other MIGS techniques) in people with open-angle glaucoma. This is a protocol....

Vitamin D for preventing acute respiratory infections in children up to five years of age This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To determine the efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation for preventing acute respiratory infections in children up to five years of age. This is a protocol....

What are the benefits and risks of different treatments for elbow fractures in children? Key messages - A child with a supracondylar elbow fracture (a broken bone in the upper elbow, approximately 5 cm above the elbow joint) may have a lower risk of nerve injury if two or more wires are inserted from the outside of the elbow rather than having one wire inserted from the inside of the elbow and one from the outside (crossed wires). The method used by the doctor to manually move the bones back into position may not increase or reduce the risk of nerve injury, but using a closed method may...

Brain-computer interface training for motor recovery after stroke This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the effectiveness of brain-computer interface training for motor recovery after stroke. This is a protocol....

Pain control during panretinal photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects (benefits and harms) of different interventions aimed at controlling pain associated with panretinal photocoagulation, in people with severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, according to the classification of ETDRS 1991. This is a protocol....

Visual tubal patency tests for tubal occlusion and hydrosalpinx This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (diagnostic). The objectives are as follows: To determine and compare the diagnostic accuracy of visual tubal patency tests (hysterosalpingography (HSG), sono-hysterosalpingography (sono-HSG), magnetic resonance hysterosalpingography (MR-HSG), and outpatient transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (THL)) for the diagnosis of tubal occlusion. Secondary objectives To determine and compare the diagnostic accuracy of visual tubal patency tests (HSG, sono-HSG, MR-HSG, and outpatient THL) for the...

Dietary interventions for managing glucose abnormalities in people with cystic fibrosis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of dietary interventions on glycaemic control and clinical status in people with cystic fibrosis who have dysglycaemia. This is a protocol....

Speech and language therapy interventions for speech problems in Parkinson's disease This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the effectiveness of speech and language therapy (SLT) interventions on speech and voice problems in people with Parkinson’s disease. We will investigate whether: SLT is more effective than no SLT; SLT is more effective than placebo or attention control interventions; one SLT intervention is more effective than another SLT intervention (including standard care). This is a protocol....

Interventions for preventing falls in Parkinson's disease Review Question In this review we assessed the evidence on the effect of interventions designed to reduce falls in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The interventions included exercise, medication, fall-prevention education and exercise plus education combined. We excluded interventions that aimed to reduce falls due to syncope (e.g. dizziness and fainting). The evidence in this review is current to 16 July 2020. Background In people with PD, the emergence of frequent falls is one of the most serious disease milestones....

Unintended consequences of school-based measures to manage the COVID-19 pandemic Why is this question important? Countries worldwide have taken many public health and social measures to prevent and control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, a highly contagious respiratory virus responsible for COVID-19. A range of measures have been put in place to minimise transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within schools and the wider community. Schools have the potential to be settings of high viral transmission because they involve extended interactions amongst people in close proximity. A previous review located and...

Which faecal blood test is more accurate in detecting bowel cancer and large polyps in population screening? Background One of the most common types of cancer diagnosed is large bowel or colorectal cancer (CRC). Early detection, before symptoms appear, makes it easier to treat bowel cancer and increases the chance of survival. Taking part in a bowel cancer screening program can lead to early detection and removal of large or advanced polyps (advanced adenomas), which are considered to be a precursor to bowel cancer. Simple faecal tests are used to detect the presence of blood in stool, which...

Midline and off-midline wound closure methods after surgical treatment for pilonidal sinus This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of midline and off-midline wound closure methods after surgical treatment for pilonidal sinus. This is a protocol....

Vitamin E for people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of vitamin E in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This is a protocol....