ObjectiveTo systematiclly review the correlation between physical activity and the risk of ovarian cancer. MethodsSuch databases as CBM, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, The Cochrane Library (Issue 10, 2013), PubMed, EMbase were searched from database establishment to October 2013 to collect prospective cohort studies about physical activities and the risk of ovarian cancer. Relevant magazines and references of included studies were also retrieved. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of 8 cohort studies involving 580 581 subjects, of which there were 2 444 cases of patients with ovarian cancer. The results of meta-analysis showed that, women who participated in moderate level physical activities tended to have a lower incidence of ovarian cancer, compared with those who participated in low level physical activities (age-adjusted:RR=0.87, 95%CI 0.75 to 1.01, P=0.06; multivariate-adjusted:RR=0.97, 95%CI 0.83 to 1.14, P=0.71) but with no significant difference; while women who participated in high level physical activities tended to have a higher incidence of ovarian cancer with a significant difference found in the multivariate-adjusted results (age-adjusted:RR=1.19, 95%CI 0.91 to 1.56, P=0.21; multivariate-adjusted:RR=1.35, 95%CI 1.08 to 1.67, P=0.008). Along with the increase of sedentariness, the incidence of ovarian cancer rose, but with no significant difference. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that, compared with low level physical activities, high level ones increase the risk of ovarian caner; while the effects of moderate level ones and sedentariness on the risk of ovarian caner still remain uncertain. However, more high-quality studies are required to verify the conclusion of this study because of the limited quantity of the included studies as well as many confounding factors.
ObjectiveTo acquaint the development process and item composition of the appraisal tools and reporting standards of clinical pathways worldwide, in order to improve the development and evaluation of clinical pathways. MethodsWe searched databases including PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI and WanFang Data for articles about the appraisal tools and reporting standards of clinical pathways from inception to Jan, 2014. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and compared the difference in development process and item composition among included appraisal tools and reporting standards of clinical pathways. ResultsA total of 7 appraisal tools and reporting standards were included. Among them, 3 were from UK, 1 from China, 1 from Australia, 1 from Belgium, and 1 from Saudi Arabia. All included appraisal tools contained 4 to 15 domains and 14 to 99 items. Based on the comparison of different domains and items of included appraisal tools, "Clinical Pathway Management Guidelines" published by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China and the research of Vannhaecht, we identified 17 key elements of clinical pathway as follows:organizational commitment, pathway project management, format of doc, content of pathway, multidisciplinary involvement, variance management, EBM/guidelines, maintenance of pathway, accountability, patient involvement, development of pathway, additional support systems & documents, operational arrangement, implementation, outcome management, safety and organization of the care process. ConclusionCurrently, the appraisal tools and reporting standards of clinical pathways are rudimentary, so we desperately needs to establish mature appraisal tool and reporting standard of clinical pathways to guide the development and implementation of clinical pathway, so as to improve their application effects in clinical practice and medical quality.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the method quality of systematic reviews/Meta analysis published in nursing journals. MethodsWe retrieved Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese academic literature online publishing pool and Chinese Scientific Journals Database (the duration was from the beginning to August, 2013). The systematic reviews and Meta analysis published in nursing journals were included, and were evaluated by 10 items in OQAQ (Oxman-Guyatt Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire). ResultsA total of 74 literatures were included in the analysis, including 17 systematic reviews and 57 Meta-analyses. It showed that the mean OQAQ score was 2.92±1.63. About 4.1%, 8.1%, 31.1%, 43.2%, 29.7%, 55.4%, 16.2%, 37.8%, and 60.8% studies stated literature research methods used to find evidence; had reasonably comprehensive search; avoided bias in the selection of studies by duplicate screening; reported the criteria used for assessing the validity of the included studies; concluded the findings by the data or analysis; provided a list of studies; assessed using appropriate criteria; reported the methods used to synthesis the findings; and combined the findings of the included studies appropriately. ConclusionThe systematic reviews/Meta analysis of the overall quality in nursing field is low. The search strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, quality assessment and data analysis is particularly prominent, researchers should conduct rigorous methodological training.
Indirect comparison refers to a comparison of different healthcare interventions using data from separate studies, and is often used because of a lack of, or insufficient evidence from head-to-head comparative trials. We aimed to summarize the definition, fundamental theory, type, relevant statistical contents, and to clarify some question on how to use indirect comparison, in order to attract more researchers' attention and promote methodological development of indirect comparison.
ObjectiveTo analyze the earthquake emergency plans in 31 provinces (including autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) of China, in order to summarize the relevant characteristics and discuss the existing problems to provide references for the revision and improvement of the earthquake emergency plan for the government and relevant departments. MethodsComprehensive literature search was conducted in the following websites:The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, China Earthquake Information Network, China Earthquake Administration, Government Websites and Earthquake Information Networks in 31 provinces (including autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) of China. The literature which met the inclusion criteria was collected for descriptive analysis. ResultsEarthquake emergency plans in 31 provinces (including autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) played a guiding role in the earthquake emergency and rescue work. However, some existing problems needed to be solved, which included:poor manoeuvrability of earthquake emergency plan, inadequate mechanisms of early warning and prevention, lower security on command platform and emergency shelter, and unclearly defined updating and revising time. ConclusionDifferent provinces (including autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) of China should establish sound laws and regulations, improve the mechanisms of early warning and prevention, strengthen security measures of command platform and emergency shelter, and update and revise plans timely combined with its own characteristics, so that earthquake emergency plans could play a greater role in earthquake emergency in the future.
ObjectiveTo analyze the retrieval status of master and doctoral dissertations entitled systematic review/meta-analysis (SR/MA) in China. MethodsThe China Dissertation Database was searched for master and doctoral dissertations entitled SR/MA from 1980 to March 2015. Two reviewers independently extracted the basic characteristics of included dissertations, the name of retrieval databases, retrieval strategies and the method of screening literature. Then related data were analysed by Stata 12.0 software. ResultsA total of 1 639 master and doctoral dissertations entitled SR/MA were included for data analysis. Among them, 1 259 (79.5%) retrieved both Chinese databases and English databases, 107 (6.5%) retrieved Chinese databases alone, and the other 237 (14.5%) retrieved English databases alone. 1 137 (69.4%) retrieved two or more Chinese databases, while 1 316 (80.3%) retrieved two or more English databases. The most commonly retrieved Chinese databases were CNKI, VIP, CBM, and WanFang Data; while the most frequently retrieved English databases were PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase and Ovid. 89.9% reported the duration of search time, 73.4% reported manual retrieval, 68.6% reported reference retrieval, 23.3% reported conference retrieval, 23.3% reported using search engine and 26.8% reported contact with experts and authors. 45.8% reported their steps of screening papers, 37.5% provided a flow screening chart, and only 14.9% reported the number of papers from each database. ConclusionThe current study suggests that the retrieved databases of master and doctoral dissertations entitled SR/MA in China are still not enough. We suggest the authors of dissertations on SR/MA retrieve at least 3 common databases, reference, engines, conference paper at the same time, and improve information on search strategy and paper screening methods.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the effects of chewing gun on the promotion of intestinal function recovery after colorectal cancer surgery. MethodsWe searched PubMed, The Cochrane Library, CBM and CNKI databases from their inception to December 2014, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing chewing gun in patients after colorectal cancer surgery. References of included studies were also retrieved. Two reviewers independently screened studies according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsNine RCTs involved 686 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis indicated that, compared with the control group, chewing gun could significantly reduce the time to first passage of flatus (MD=-17.33, 95%CI -23.96 to -10.70, P<0.000 01), the time to the first defecation (MD=-22.25, 95%CI -36.45 to -8.05, P=0.002) and postoperative hospital stay (MD=-1.37, 95%CI -2.25 to -0.49, P=0.002) after colorectal cancer surgery, and could also reduce the intestinal obstruction caused by intestinal paralysis (OR=0.33, 95%CI 0.14 to 0.77, P=0.01). However, no significant difference in the incidence of nausea and vomiting was found. ConclusionEarly chewing gum can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients after colorectal cancer operation.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of chemo-radiotherapy combined with hyperthermia (HCRT) for rectal cancer, and to provide evidence for clinical practice. MethodsWe searched the Cochrane Library (Issue 6, 2014), PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data databases from inception to July 2014. All relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of HCRT for rectal cancer were collected. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 9 RCTs involving 663 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that:Compared with the chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) group, the HCRT group were significant superior in complete response (OR=3.74, 95%CI 2.14 to 6.53), total effective rate (OR=4.23, 95%CI 2.69 to 6.66), 3-year survival rate (OR=4.48, 95%CI 1.81 to 11.06) and recurrence rate (OR=0.19, 95%CI 0.09 to 0.42). ②Compared with the radiotherapy (RT) group, the HCRT group was associated with significant improvement in complete response rate (OR=3.01, 95%CI 1.24 to 7.29). ConclusionCurrent evidence shows, HCRT is superior to CRT or RT in the treatment of rectal cancer. However, due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
The published methodological studies about network meta-analysis mostly focused on the binary variables, but study focused on the continuous variables was few. This study introduces how to use R, GeMTC and Stata softwares jointly to produce various graphics of continuous variable network meta-analysis. It also introduces how to perform the convergence diagnostics, trace and density plot, forest, rank probabilities and rankogram, internal relationship summary chart, network plot, contribution plot and publication bias test.
Objects To retrospectively analyze the accepted abstracts by the Cochrane Colloquiums in recent 5 years, so as to learn the advances and development trend for next stage in evidence-based medicine field. MethodsAbstracts accepted by the 19th to 23rd Cochrane Colloquiums were collected, and relevant information was extracted. Then, a descriptive analysis was conducted. Outcomes A total of 2088 abstracts were accepted in recent five Cochrane Colloquiums. Europe contributed the most abstracts, in the top 10 contribution countries, five countries were located in Europe. Colleges/Universities were the major contributing institutes, McMaster University of Canada (165, 7.90%) and Lanzhou University of China (118, 5.65%) were the top two contributing institutions. The number of authors of most accepted abstracts were 3 to 5(1011, 48.42%). The top three topics focused by these abstracts were evidence (417, 19.97%), methodology (412, 19.73%) and risk of bias (220, 10.54%). ConclusionsEuropean countries are major contributing countries of abstracts of the Cochrane Colloquium, and colleges/universities are the major contributing institutions. Retrieval and methodology are research hot in recent 5 years. Attention should be paid to breakthrough progress in methodology in future.