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....

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for the prevention of cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases: a network meta-analysis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: We aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of WHO pre-qualified human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines given in different dose schedules, in females and males, to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases by undertaking a network meta-analysis (NMA). We will rank the different vaccines and dose schedules according to the critical outcomes. This is a protocol....

Which is the best treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding? Key results Evidence suggests that the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is the best first-line option for reducing menstrual bleeding, while antifibrinolytics are probably the second best, and long-cycle progestogens are the third best. Because of some limitations in the evidence, we are not sure what the true effect of these first-line treatments is for the perception of improvement and satisfaction. For second-line treatments, evidence suggests any type of hysterectomy is the best treatment for reducing...

Effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes on community rates of HPV-related disease and harms from vaccination This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: We aim to assess population-level effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes on HPV-related disease and harms from vaccination. This is a protocol....

Surgery for nasal polyposis in cystic fibrosis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To determine the effects of sinus surgery alone or in combination with medical treatment (non-surgical) compared to medical treatment (non-surgical) alone on both nasal and pulmonary function in people with cystic fibrosis diagnosed with CRS with nasal polyposis. Further, to evaluate the impact of sinus surgery (with or without medical treatment) on hospitalization rates, use of antibiotics and pulmonary exacerbation rates. This is a protocol....

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha antagonists for treatment of paediatric Crohn’s disease This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the efficacy and safety of tumour necrosis factor-alpha antagonists for induction of remission in children with active Crohn's disease. This is a protocol....