Favipiravir for treating COVID-19 This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To determine the efficacy and safety of favipiravir in patients with COVID-19 as compared to standard of care without favipiravir. This is a protocol....

Cannabis and cannabinoids for people with multiple sclerosis Key messages • Treatment with nabiximols likely results in improvement of spasticity and may not increase serious harmful effects compared with placebo • Compared with placebo, cannabinoids (nabiximols, Cannabis extract, synthetic cannabinoids) likely improve well-being when measured with patient-reported outcomes • Due to a lack of robust evidence, the benefit of these medicines for treating chronic neuropathic pain is unclear. What is the issue? Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience spasticity that causes also pain...

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for preventing acute kidney injury This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: This review aims to look at the benefits and harms of ESAs for preventing AKI in the context of any health condition. This is a protocol....

Cognitive behavioural therapy plus standard care for first episode psychosis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of adding cognitive behavioural therapy to standard care for people with a first episode of schizophrenia. This is a protocol....

Delivery of intravenous anti-cancer therapy at home versus in hospital or community settings for adults with cancer This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the safety, patient preference for, and cost of intravenous anti-cancer therapy (chemotherapy or immunotherapy) delivered at home as an alternative to the same intravenous anti-cancer therapy regimen delivered in a hospital or community settings, in adults with cancer. This is a protocol....

Effects of policies regulating insurance for drugs The aim of this Cochrane Review was to find out if drug insurance schemes change people’s use of medicines, the amount of money they spend on medicines, their health, and their use of healthcare. Cochrane Review authors collected and analysed all relevant studies to answer this question. They found 58 studies. Most of these studies were from the US assessing a single policy change (Medicare Part D) implemented in January 2006. Key messages The USA’s Medicare Part D offers free prescription medicines to elderly people. This system may...

Atypical antipsychotics for autism spectrum disorder: a network meta-analysis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: Primary To assess the comparative efficacy of atypical antipsychotics for irritability through network meta-analysis in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Secondary To assess the safety and efficacy of atypical antipsychotics as medications for core and non-core symptoms in children and adults with ASD. This is a protocol....

Rapid molecular tests for tuberculosis and tuberculosis drug resistance: the views and experiences of people who are tested and healthcare providers What is the aim of this review? We aimed to understand the experiences and opinions of people using rapid automated tests that identify tuberculosis and resistance to tuberculosis drugs (molecular diagnostic tests). Users include people who might have tuberculosis and their families or caregivers, doctors, nurses, laboratory staff, and managers of services or programmes. What was studied in this review? Rapid molecular diagnostic tests were...

The use of probiotics to prevent Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis Review question What are the benefits and risks of using probiotics to prevent Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC)? Key messages We compared randomised controlled trials (RCTS) of probiotics versus placebo, or any other non-probiotic intervention, to prevent Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC). There is currently not enough evidence to assess the efficacy or safety of probiotics for the prevention of HAEC. What is HAEC? HAEC is a rare condition. It can cause inflammation of the bowels and lead to...

Surgery on both eyes on the same day or on different days: which works better to treat cataract in both eyes? Key messages - Current evidence supports there may be no important difference between surgery on both eyes on the same day (ISBCS) and surgery on different days (DSBCS) for the following clinical outcomes: eye (ocular) infection (endophthalmitis, a severe, sight-threatening but rare complication), spectacle correction after surgery (refraction), complications, vision with spectacle correction (if needed), and patient-reported outcomes (PROMs; questionnaires on vision). - Current...

Duration of antibiotic treatment for foot osteomyelitis in people with diabetes This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To compare the effects of a shorter antibacterial treatment duration with a longer antibacterial treatment duration in people with diabetes and foot osteomyelitis. This is a protocol....

Fortification of salt with iron and iodine compared to salt fortified with iodine only for improving iron and iodine status Key messages Compared to iodised salt, double-fortified salt (salt fortified with iron and iodine) may improve some measures of iron and iodine nutrition, such as haemoglobin (i.e. the substance that gives red blood cells their colour) concentrations and body iron stores. However, it may reduce urinary iodine concentration and may make little or no difference to ferritin (i.e. iron-storage protein) concentrations and transferrin receptor (i.e. protein that affects the...

Topical and oral steroids for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects (benefits and harms) of topical and oral steroids for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. This is a protocol....

Autoinflation for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects (benefits and harms) of autoinflation for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. This is a protocol....

Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects (benefits and harms) of oral antibiotics for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. This is a protocol....

Can mindfulness help people to stop smoking? Key messages - There is currently no clear evidence that mindfulness-based treatments help people to stop smoking or improve their mental health and well-being. - However, our confidence in the evidence is low or very low, and further evidence is likely to change our conclusions. What is mindfulness? Mindfulness involves focusing attention on your thoughts and feelings and observing them without judgment as they arise and pass away. Mindfulness is believed to help people better control their thoughts and feelings, rather than be controlled by...

Adenoidectomy for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects (benefits and harms) of adenoidectomy, either alone or in combination with ventilation tubes (grommets), for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. This is a protocol....

Antibiotics for acute pyelonephritis in adults This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: This review aims to look at the benefits and harms of antibiotics used in the treatment of acute pyelonephritis in adults. The aspects of treatment that will be evaluated are: Different routes of administration; Different durations of the same antibiotic; and Comparison of different antibiotic agents in the same population. This is a protocol....

Nirmatrelvir combined with ritonavir for preventing and treating COVID-19 This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the efficacy and safety of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid®) plus standard of care compared to standard of care with or without placebo, or any other proven intervention for treating COVID-19 and for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is a protocol....

How accurate are remote, virtual assessments at diagnosing dementia? Why is this question important? Dementia is a chronic and progressive condition that affects peoples' memory and ability to function day-to-day. A clinical diagnosis of dementia usually involves brain scans, physical examinations and history taking. As a first step, we often use memory and thinking tests to identify people who need further assessment. Traditionally these tests are performed in-person, but modifications of the tests allow them to be used over the telephone or via video calls – sometimes called 'remote...