A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Manipulative Therapy in Treating Lateral Epicondylalgia Use of Condition-Specific Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Clinical Trials among Patients with Wrist Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review Conducting and Reporting Case Series and Audits - Author Guidelines for Acupuncture in Medicine Rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Clinical effectiveness of manual therapy for the management of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions: systematic review and update of UK evidence report Systematic Reviews of Animal Studies; Missing Link in Translational Research? Effectiveness of physical therapist administered spinal manipulation for the treatment of low back pain: a systematic review of the literature. Evidence regarding the utility of multiple mini-interview (MMI) for selection to undergraduate health programs: A BEME systematic review: BEME Guide No. 37 How effective and safe is medical cannabis as a treatment of mental disorders? A systematic review Efficacy of postural and neck-stabilization exercises for persons with acute whiplash-associated disorders: a systematic review. A newly developed tool for classifying study designs in systematic reviews of interventions and exposures showed substantial reliability and validity. AMSTAR is a reliable and valid measurement tool to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews. Keele Aches and Pains Study protocol: validity, acceptability, and feasibility of the Keele STarT MSK tool for subgrouping musculoskeletal patients in primary care Circular instead of hierarchical: methodological principles for the evaluation of complex interventions Prevention of cervical cancer in HIV-seropositive women from developing countries: a systematic review protocol Reliability and External Validity of AMSTAR in Assessing Quality of TCM Systematic Reviews Effect of resistance exercises on function in older adults with osteoporosis or osteopenia: a systematic review. The clinical effectiveness of different parenting programmes for children with conduct problems: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials Using Guasha to treat musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review of controlled clinical trials Comparison of tools for assessing the methodological quality of primary and secondary studies in health technology assessment reports in Germany Effectiveness of trigger point dry needling for multiple body regions: a systematic review Agreement Between Telerehabilitation and Face-to-Face Clinical Outcome Assessments for Low Back Pain in Primary Care The Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test (CUPIT): development, reliability, concurrent and predictive validity among adolescents and adults.
Abstract Lateral epicondylalgia is a commonly encountered musculoskeletal complaint . Currently , there is no agreement regarding the exact underlying pathoanatomical cause or the most effective management strategy . Various forms of joint manipulation have been recommended as treatment . The purpose of this study was to systematic ally review available literature regarding the effectiveness of manipulation in treating lateral epicondylalgia . A comprehensive search of Medline , CINAHL , Health Source , SPORTD iscus , and the Physiotherapy Evidence Data base ending in November 2007 was conducted . Thirteen studies , both r and omized and non-r and omized clinical trials , met inclusion criteria . Articles were assessed for quality by one review er using the 10-point PEDro scale . Quality scores ranged from 1 - 8 with a mean score of 5.15 ± 1.85 . This score represented fair quality overall ; however , trends indicated the presence of consistent method ological flaws . Specifically , no study achieved successful blinding of the patient or treating therapist , and less than 50 % used a blinded outcome assessor . Additionally , studies varied significantly in terms of outcome measures , follow-up , and comparison treatments , thus making comparing results across studies difficult . Results of this review support the use of Mulligan 's mobilization with movement in providing immediate , short- , and long-term benefits . In addition , positive results were demonstrated with manipulative therapy directed at the cervical spine , although data regarding long-term effects were limited . Currently , limited evidence exists to support a synthesis of any particular technique whether directed at the elbow or cervical spine . Overall , this review identified the need for further high- quality studies using larger sample sizes , valid functional outcome measures , and longer follow-up periods Background . This paper aim ed to identify condition-specific patient-reported outcome measures used in clinical trials among people with wrist osteoarthritis and summarise empirical peer- review ed evidence supporting their reliability , validity , and responsiveness to change . Methods . A systematic review of r and omised controlled trials among people with wrist osteoarthritis was undertaken . Studies reporting reliability , validity , or responsiveness were identified using a systematic reverse citation trail audit procedure . Psychometric properties of the instruments were examined against predefined criteria and summarised . Results . Thirteen clinical trials met inclusion criteria . The most common patient-reported outcome was the disabilities of the arm , shoulder , and h and question naire ( DASH ) . The DASH , the  Michigan H and Outcomes Question naire ( MHQ ) , the  Patient Evaluation Measure ( PEM ) , and the  Patient-Reported Wrist Evaluation ( PRWE ) had evidence supporting their reliability , validity , and responsiveness . A post-hoc review of excluded studies revealed the AUSCAN Osteoarthritis H and Index as another suitable instrument that had favourable reliability , validity , and responsiveness . Conclusions . The DASH , MHQ , and AUSCAN Osteoarthritis H and Index instruments were supported by the most favourable empirical evidence for validity , reliability , and responsiveness . The PEM and PRWE also had favourable empirical evidence reported for these elements . Further psychometric testing of these instruments among people with wrist osteoarthritis is warranted This article aims to give guidance on the conduct and reporting of case series and audits of acupuncture , based on common problems that have arisen in the past . This type of project , and particularly the prospect i ve case series or pre- post-intervention study , may give valuable evidence of the overall effectiveness of acupuncture for example in different situations and in different conditions and provides one step in the research pathway before generating an hypothesis . The project should be design ed with the aim of reducing bias as much as possible . Careful and detailed planning is essential for the project to produce worthwhile results that readers can evaluate and replicate . Ethical issues should be considered and formal approval may be necessary . The patient group should be recruited systematic ally and baseline data obtained . The treatment given should be systematic and decisions to change or end treatment made explicit . The outcome should be measured in ways that are known to be reliable and valid . Musculoskeletal problems can be evaluated with scales for pain and confirmed by measuring one other symptom such as stiffness or one other aspect such as bothersomeness . Global change scores also provide supporting information , and the MYMOP ( Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile ) measure is popular when patients with different conditions are included . The design of question naires for beliefs and attitudes is a specialised area that should not be attempted without expert help . Adverse events should also be recorded . Analysis of the data and the best way of summarising and presenting the results are also discussed BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis ( MS ) is a major cause of chronic , neurological disability , with a significant long-term disability burden , often requiring comprehensive rehabilitation . OBJECTIVES To systematic ally evaluate evidence from published Cochrane Review s of clinical trials to summarise the evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of rehabilitation interventions for people with MS ( pwMS ) , to improve patient outcomes , and to highlight current gaps in knowledge . METHODS We search ed the Cochrane Data base of Systematic Review s up to December 2017 , to identify Cochrane Review s that assessed the effectiveness of organised rehabilitation interventions for pwMS . Two review ers independently assessed the quality of included review s , using the Revised Assessment of Multiple Systematic Review s ( R-AMSTAR ) tool , and the quality of the evidence for reported outcomes , using the GRADE framework . MAIN RESULTS Overall , we included 15 review s published in the Cochrane Library , comprising 164 r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) and four controlled clinical trials , with a total of 10,396 participants . The included review s evaluated a wide range of rehabilitation interventions , including : physical activity and exercise therapy , hyperbaric oxygen therapy ( HBOT ) , whole-body vibration , occupational therapy , cognitive and psychological interventions , nutritional and dietary supplements , vocational rehabilitation , information provision , telerehabilitation , and interventions for the management of spasticity . We assessed all review s to be of high to moderate method ological quality , based on R-AMSTAR criteria .Moderate- quality evidence suggested that physical therapeutic modalities ( exercise and physical activities ) improved functional outcomes ( mobility , muscular strength ) , reduced impairment ( fatigue ) , and improved participation ( quality of life ) . Moderate- quality evidence suggested that inpatient or outpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation programmes led to longer-term gains at the levels of activity and participation , and interventions that provided information improved patient knowledge . Low-qualitty evidence suggested that neuropsychological interventions , symptom-management programmes ( spasticity ) , whole body vibration , and telerehabilitation improved some patient outcomes . Evidence for other rehabilitation modalities was inconclusive , due to lack of robust studies . AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS The evidence suggests that regular specialist evaluation and follow-up to assess the needs of patients with all types of MS for appropriate rehabilitation interventions may be of benefit , although the certainty of evidence varies across the different types of interventions evaluated by the review s. Structured , multidisciplinary rehabilitation programmes and physical therapy ( exercise or physical activities ) can improve functional outcomes ( mobility , muscle strength , aerobic capacity ) , and quality of life . Overall , the evidence for many rehabilitation interventions should be interpreted cautiously , as the majority of included review s did not include data from current studies . More studies , with appropriate design , which report the type and intensity of modalities and their cost-effectiveness are needed to address the current gaps in knowledge Background This systematic review up date d and extended the " UK evidence report " by Bronfort et al. ( Chiropr Osteopath 18:3 , 2010 ) with respect to conditions/ interventions that received an ' inconclusive ’ or ' negative ’ evidence rating or were not covered in the report . Methods A literature search of more than 10 general medical and specialised data bases was conducted in August 2011 and up date d in March 2013 . Systematic review s , primary comparative studies and qualitative studies of patients with musculoskeletal or non-musculoskeletal conditions treated with manual therapy and reporting clinical outcomes were included . Study quality was assessed using st and ardised instruments , studies were summarised , and the results were compared against the evidence ratings of Bronfort . These were either confirmed , up date d , or new categories not assessed by Bronfort were added . Results 25,539 records were found ; 178 new and additional studies were identified , of which 72 were systematic review s , 96 were r and omised controlled trials , and 10 were non-r and omised primary studies . Most ' inconclusive ’ or ' moderate ’ evidence ratings of the UK evidence report were confirmed . Evidence ratings changed in a positive direction from inconclusive to moderate evidence ratings in only three cases ( manipulation/mobilisation [ with exercise ] for rotator cuff disorder ; spinal mobilisation for cervicogenic headache ; and mobilisation for miscellaneous headache ) . In addition , evidence was identified on a large number of non-musculoskeletal conditions not previously considered ; most of this evidence was rated as inconclusive . Conclusions Overall , there was limited high quality evidence for the effectiveness of manual therapy . Most review ed evidence was of low to moderate quality and inconsistent due to substantial method ological and clinical diversity . Areas requiring further research are highlighted Background The method ological quality of animal studies is an important factor hampering the translation of results from animal studies to a clinical setting . Systematic review s of animal studies may provide a suitable method to assess and thereby improve their method ological quality . Objectives The aims of this study were : 1 ) to evaluate the risk of bias assessment in animal-based systematic review s , and 2 ) to study the internal validity of the primary animal studies included in these systematic review s. Data Sources We systematic ally search ed Pubmed and Embase for SRs of pre clinical animal studies published between 2005 and 2012 . Results A total of 91 systematic review s met our inclusion criteria . The risk of bias was assessed in 48 ( 52.7 % ) of these 91 systematic review s. Thirty-three ( 36.3 % ) SRs provided sufficient information to evaluate the internal validity of the included studies . Of the evaluated primary studies , 24.6 % was r and omized , 14.6 % reported blinding of the investigator/caretaker , 23.9 % blinded the outcome assessment , and 23.1 % reported drop-outs . Conclusions To improve the translation of animal data to clinical practice , systematic review s of animal studies are worthwhile , but the internal validity of primary animal studies needs to be improved . Furthermore , risk of bias should be assessed by systematic review s of animal studies to provide insight into the reliability of the available evidence BACKGROUND CONTEXT Low back pain ( LBP ) is a prevalent disorder in society that has been associated with increased loss of work time and medical expenses . A common intervention for LBP is spinal manipulation , a technique that is not specific to one scope of practice or profession . PURPOSE The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of physical therapy spinal manipulations for the treatment of patients with low back pain . METHODS A search of the current literature was conducted using PubMed , CINAHL , SPORTD iscus , Pro Quest Nursing and Allied Health Source , Scopus , and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register . Studies were included if each involved : 1 ) individuals with LBP ; 2 ) spinal manipulations performed by physical therapists compared to any control group that did not receive manipulations ; 3 ) measurable clinical outcomes or efficiency of treatment measures , and 4 ) r and omized control trials . The quality of included articles was determined by two independent authors using the criteria developed and used by the Physiotherapy Evidence Data base ( PEDro ) . RESULTS Six r and omized control trials met the inclusion criteria of this systematic review . The most commonly used outcomes in these studies were some variation of pain rating scales and disability indexes . Notable results included varying degrees of effect sizes favoring physical therapy spinal manipulations and minimal adverse events result ing from this intervention . Additionally , the manipulation group in one study reported statistically significantly less medication use , health care utilization , and lost work time . CONCLUSION Based on the findings of this systematic review there is evidence to support the use of spinal manipulation by physical therapists in clinical practice . Physical therapy spinal manipulation appears to be a safe intervention that improves clinical outcomes for patients with low back pain Abstract Background : In the 11 years since its development at McMaster University Medical School , the multiple mini-interview ( MMI ) has become a popular selection tool . We aim ed to systematic ally explore , analyze and synthesize the evidence regarding MMIs for selection to undergraduate health programs . Methods : The review protocol was peer- review ed and prospect ively registered with the Best Evidence Medical Education ( BEME ) collaboration . Thirteen data bases were search ed through 34 terms and their Boolean combinations . Seven key journals were h and - search ed since 2004 . The reference sections of all included studies were screened . Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were coded independently by two review ers using a modified BEME coding sheet . Extracted data were synthesized through narrative synthesis . Results : A total of 4338 citations were identified and screened , result ing in 41 papers that met inclusion criteria . Thirty-two studies report data for selection to medicine , six for dentistry , three for veterinary medicine , one for pharmacy , one for nursing , one for rehabilitation , and one for health science . Five studies investigated selection to more than one profession . MMIs used for selection to undergraduate health programs appear to have reasonable feasibility , acceptability , validity , and reliability . Reliability is optimized by including 7–12 stations , each with one examiner . The evidence is stronger for face validity , with more research needed to explore content validity and predictive validity . In published studies , MMIs do not appear biased against applicants on the basis of age , gender , or socio-economic status . However , applicants of certain ethnic and social background s did less well in a very small number of published studies . Performance on MMIs does not correlate strongly with other measures of noncognitive attributes , such as personality inventories and measures of emotional intelligence . Discussion : MMI does not automatically mean a more reliable selection process but it can do , if carefully design ed . Effective MMIs require careful identification of the noncognitive attributes sought by the program and institution . Attention needs to be given to the number of stations , the blueprint and examiner training . Conclusion : More work is required on MMIs as they may disadvantage groups of certain ethnic or social background s. There is a compelling argument for multi-institutional studies to investigate areas such as the relationship of MMI content to curriculum domains , graduate outcomes , and social missions ; relationships of applicants ’ performance on different MMIs ; bias in selecting applicants of minority groups ; and the long-term outcomes appropriate for studies of predictive validity We conducted a review of systematic review s ( SRs ) and r and omized-controlled trials ( RCTs ) to analyze efficacy and safety of cannabis-based medication in patients with mental disorders . Five data bases were systematic ally search ed ( 2006—August 2018 ) ; 4 SRs ( of 11 RCTs ) and 14 RCTs ( 1629 participants ) were included . Diagnoses were : dementia , cannabis and opioid dependence , psychoses/schizophrenia , general social anxiety , posttraumatic stress disorder , anorexia nervosa , attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder , and Tourette`s disorder . Outcome variables were too heterogeneous to conduct a meta- analysis . A narrative synthesis method was applied . The study quality was assessed using the risk-of-bias tool and SIGN-checklists . THC- and CBD-based medicines , given as adjunct to pharmaco- and psychotherapy , were associated with improvements of several symptoms of mental disorders , but not with remission . Side effects occurred , but severe adverse effects were mentioned in single cases only . In order to provide reliable treatment recommendations , more and larger RCTs with follow-up assessment s , consistent outcome measures and active comparisons are needed PURPOSE We systematic ally review ed r and omized and quasi-r and omized clinical trials in the literature to assess the efficacy of neck stabilization and postural exercises on pain , neck range of motion , and time off work in adults with acute whiplash-associated disorders . METHODS Electronic data bases , reference lists of relevant Cochrane review s , reference lists of studies selected for inclusion , and tables of contents of relevant journals were systematic ally search ed for r and omized and quasi-r and omized controlled trials . Two independent review ers selected studies for inclusion , assessed method ological quality , and extracted data . Because of the heterogeneity of the interventions , a qualitative synthesis was performed using " levels of evidence " as recommended by van Tulder et al. RESULTS Eight studies representing five clinical trials were selected for inclusion . Two trials were grade d as high quality , two as moderate quality , and one as low quality . Many of these studies had mixed results , demonstrating significant differences on some outcome measures but not on others . CONCLUSIONS There is moderate evidence to support the use of postural exercises for decreasing pain and time off work in the treatment of patients with acute whiplash-associated disorders . However , no evidence exists to support the use of postural exercises for increasing neck range of motion . There is conflicting evidence in support of neck stabilization exercises in the treatment of patients with acute whiplash-associated disorders OBJECTIVE To develop a study Design Algorithm for Medical Literature on Intervention ( DAMI ) and test its interrater reliability , construct validity , and ease of use . STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We developed and then revised the DAMI to include detailed instructions . To test the DAMI 's reliability , we used a purposive sample of 134 primary , mainly nonr and omized studies . We then compared the study design s as classified by the original authors and through the DAMI . Unweighted kappa statistics were computed to test interrater reliability and construct validity based on the level of agreement between the original and DAMI classifications . Assessment time was also recorded to evaluate ease of use . RESULTS The DAMI includes 13 study design s , including experimental and observational studies of interventions and exposure . Both the interrater reliability ( unweighted kappa = 0.67 ; 95 % CI [ 0.64 - 0.75 ] ) and construct validity ( unweighted kappa = 0.63 , 95 % CI [ 0.52 - 0.67 ] ) were substantial . Mean classification time using the DAMI was 4.08 ± 2.44 minutes ( range , 0.51 - 10.92 ) . CONCLUSIONS The DAMI showed substantial interrater reliability and construct validity . Furthermore , given its ease of use , it could be used to accurately classify medical literature for systematic review s of interventions although minimizing disagreement between authors of such review OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to measure the agreement , reliability , construct validity , and feasibility of a measurement tool to assess  systematic review s ( AMSTAR ) . STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We r and omly selected 30 systematic review s from a data base . Each was assessed by two review ers using : ( 1 ) the enhanced quality assessment question naire ( Overview of Quality Assessment Question naire [ OQAQ ] ) ; ( 2 ) Sacks ' instrument ; and ( 3 ) our newly developed measurement tool ( AMSTAR ) . We report on reliability ( interobserver kappas of the 11 AMSTAR items ) , intraclass correlation coefficients ( ICCs ) of the sum scores , construct validity ( ICCs of the sum scores of AMSTAR compared with those of other instruments ) , and completion times . RESULTS The interrater agreement of the individual items of AMSTAR was substantial with a mean kappa of 0.70 ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] : 0.57 , 0.83 ) ( range : 0.38 - 1.0 ) . Kappas recorded for the other instruments were 0.63 ( 95 % CI : 0.38 , 0.78 ) for enhanced OQAQ and 0.40 ( 95 % CI : 0.29 , 0.50 ) for the Sacks ' instrument . The ICC of the total score for AMSTAR was 0.84 ( 95 % CI : 0.65 , 0.92 ) compared with 0.91 ( 95 % CI : 0.82 , 0.96 ) for OQAQ and 0.86 ( 95 % CI : 0.71 , 0.94 ) for the Sacks ' instrument . AMSTAR proved easy to apply , each review taking about 15 minutes to complete . CONCLUSIONS AMSTAR has good agreement , reliability , construct validity , and feasibility . These findings need confirmation by a broader range of assessors and a more diverse range of review Musculoskeletal conditions represent a considerable burden worldwide , and are predominantly managed in primary care . Evidence suggests that many musculoskeletal conditions share similar prognostic factors . Systematic ally assessing patient ’s prognosis and matching treatments based on prognostic subgroups ( stratified care ) has been shown to be both clinical ly effective and cost-effective . This study ( Keele Aches and Pains Study ) aims to refine and examine the validity of a brief question naire ( Keele STarT MSK tool ) design ed to enable risk stratification of primary care patients with the five most common musculoskeletal pain presentations . We also describe the subgroups of patients , and explore the acceptability and feasibility of using the tool and how the tool is best implemented in clinical practice . The study design is mixed methods : a prospect i ve , quantitative observational cohort study with a linked qualitative focus group and interview study . Patients who have consulted their GP or health care practitioner about a relevant musculoskeletal condition will be recruited from general practice . Participating patients will complete a baseline question naire ( shortly after consultation ) , plus question naires 2 and 6 months later . A sub sample of patients , along with participating GPs and health care practitioners , will be invited to take part in qualitative focus groups and interviews . The Keele STarT MSK tool will be refined based on face , discriminant , construct , and predictive validity at baseline and 2 months , and vali date d using data from 6-month follow-up . Patient and clinician perspectives about using the tool will be explored . This study will provide a vali date d prognostic tool ( Keele STarT MSK ) with established cutoff points to stratify patients with the five most common musculoskeletal presentations into low- , medium- , and high-risk subgroups . The qualitative analysis of patient and health care perspectives will inform practitioners on how to embed the tool into clinical practice using established general practice IT systems and clinician-support packages Background The reasoning behind evaluating medical interventions is that a hierarchy of methods exists which successively produce improved and therefore more rigorous evidence based medicine upon which to make clinical decisions . At the foundation of this hierarchy are case studies , retrospective and prospect i ve case series , followed by cohort studies with historical and concomitant non-r and omized controls . Open-label r and omized controlled studies ( RCTs ) , and finally blinded , placebo-controlled RCTs , which offer most internal validity are considered the most reliable evidence . Rigorous RCTs remove bias . Evidence from RCTs forms the basis of meta-analyses and systematic review s. This hierarchy , founded on a pharmacological model of therapy , is generalized to other interventions which may be complex and non-pharmacological ( healing , acupuncture and surgery ) . Discussion The hierarchical model is valid for limited questions of efficacy , for instance for regulatory purpose s and newly devised products and pharmacological preparations . It is inadequate for the evaluation of complex interventions such as physiotherapy , surgery and complementary and alternative medicine ( CAM ) . This has to do with the essential tension between internal validity ( rigor and the removal of bias ) and external validity ( generalizability ) . Summary Instead of an Evidence Hierarchy , we propose a Circular Model . This would imply a multiplicity of methods , using different design s , counterbalancing their individual strengths and weaknesses to arrive at pragmatic but equally rigorous evidence which would provide significant assistance in clinical and health systems innovation . Such evidence would better inform national health care technology assessment agencies and promote evidence based health reform Background Over 85 % of cervical cancer cases and deaths occur in developing countries . HIV-seropositive women are more likely to develop precancerous lesions that lead to cervical cancer than HIV-negative women . However , the literature on cervical cancer prevention in seropositive women in developing countries has not been review ed . The aim of this study is to systematic ally review cervical cancer prevention modalities available for HIV-seropositive women in developing countries . Methods / design This protocol was developed by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review s and Meta-Analyses Protocol s ( PRISMA -P ) statement , and the systematic review will be reported in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines . Embase , MEDLINE , PubMed , CINAHL and Cochrane Library will be search ed from inception up to date of final search , and additional studies will be located through citation and reference list tracking . Eligible studies will be r and omised controlled trials , prospect i ve and retrospective cohort studies , case-control and cross-sectional studies carried out in developing countries . Studies will be included if they are published in English and examine cervical cancer prevention modalities in HIV-seropositive women . Results will be summarised in tables and , where appropriate , combined using meta- analysis . Discussion This review will address the gap in evidence by systematic ally review ing the published literature on the different prevention modalities being used to prevent  cervical cancer in HIV-seropositive women in developing countries . The findings may be used to inform evidence -based guidelines for prevention of cervical cancer in seropositive women as well as future research . Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42017054678 Objective . The aim of this study is to measure the reliability and external validity of AMSTAR by applying it to a sample of TCM systematic review s. Study Design and Methods . We tested the agreement , reliability , construct validity , and feasibility of AMSTAR through comparisons with OQAQ . Statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS 13.0 . Results . A r and om of sample with 41 TCM systematic review s was selected from a data base . The interrater agreement of the individual items of AMSTAR was moderate with a mean kappa of 0.50 ( 95 % CI : 0.26 , 0.73 ) . The ICC for AMSTAR against OQAQ ( total score of 9 items , excluding item 10 ) was 0.87 ( 95 % CI : 0.76 , 0.93 ) . Conclusions . Although there is room for improvement on few items , the new tool is reliable , valid , and easy to use for method ological quality assessment of systematic review s on TCM PURPOSE To examine the effect of resistance exercises on self-reported physical function and activities of daily living ( ADL ) in older adults with osteoporosis or osteopenia . METHODS A search of available literature was conducted using PubMed , CINAHL , SPORTD iscus , PEDro , ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source , and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register . Studies were included if they involved ( 1 ) r and omized controlled trials ; ( 2 ) participants with osteoporosis or osteopenia ; ( 3 ) resistance exercise as an intervention ;  and ( 4 ) self-report of physical function or ADL . Articles were independently review ed for quality by two authors using the Physiotherapy Evidence Data base ( PEDro ) scale . Cohen 's d effect size was calculated by dividing st and ardized mean differences by the st and ard deviation to determine treatment effect in terms of physical function or ADL . RESULTS Five full-text articles were selected for inclusion . PEDro scores ranged from 5 to 7 ( out of 10 ) . Effect size mean differences as a result of resistance intervention ranged from 0.08 to 1.74 , suggesting " trivial " to " large " effects on self-reported physical function and ADL . CONCLUSION RESULTS suggest that interventions using resistance training have a beneficial impact on the domains of physical function and ADL in participants with osteoporosis or osteopenia . More high- quality studies are needed to lend further validity to this supposition Background Conduct problems are common , disabling and costly . The prognosis for children with conduct problems is poor , with outcomes in adulthood including criminal behaviour , alcoholism , drug abuse , domestic violence , child abuse and a range of psychiatric disorders . There has been a rapid expansion of group based parent-training programmes for the treatment of children with conduct problems  in a number of countries over the past 10 years . Existing review s of parent training have method ological limitations such as inclusion of non-r and omised studies , the absence of investigation for heterogeneity prior to meta- analysis or failure to report confidence intervals . The objective of the current study was to systematic ally review r and omised controlled trials of parenting programmes for the treatment of children with conduct problems .  Methods St and ard systematic review methods were followed including duplicate inclusion decisions , data extraction and quality assessment . Twenty electronic data bases from the fields of medicine , psychology , social science and education were comprehensively search ed for RCTs and systematic review s to February 2006 . Inclusion criteria were : r and omised controlled trial ; of structured , repeatable parenting programmes ; for parents/carers of children up to the age of 18 with a conduct problem ; and at least one measure of child behaviour . Meta- analysis and qualitative synthesis were used to summarise included studies . Results 57 RCTs were included . Studies were small with an average group size of 21 . Meta-analyses using both parent ( SMD -0.67 ; 95 % CI : -0.91 , -0.42 ) and independent ( SMD -0.44 ; 95 % CI : -0.66 , -0.23 ) reports of outcome showed significant differences favouring the intervention group . There was insufficient evidence to determine the relative effectiveness of different approaches to delivering parenting programmes . Conclusion Parenting programmes are an effective treatment for children with conduct problems . The relative effectiveness of different parenting programmes requires further research Background Guasha is a therapeutic method for pain management using tools to scrape or rub the surface of the body to relieve blood stagnation . This study aims to systematic ally review the controlled clinical trials on the effectiveness of using Guasha to treat musculoskeletal pain . Methods We search ed 11 data bases ( without language restrictions ) : MEDLINE , Allied and Complementary Medicine ( AMED ) , EMBASE , Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature ( CINAHL ) , Korean Studies Information ( KSI ) , DBPIA , Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information ( KISTI ) , KoreaMed , Research Information Service System ( RISS ) , China National Knowledge Infrastructure ( CNKI ) and the Cochrane Library . The search strategy was Guasha ( OR scraping ) AND pain . Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane criteria ( i.e. sequence generation , blinding , incomplete outcome measures and allocation concealment ) . Results Five r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) and two controlled clinical trials ( CCTs ) were included in the present study . Two RCTs compared Guasha with acupuncture in terms of effectiveness , while the other trials compared Guasha with no treatment ( 1 trial ) , acupuncture ( 4 trials ) , herbal injection ( 1 trial ) and massage or electric current therapy ( 1 trial ) . While two RCTs suggested favorable effects of Guasha on pain reduction and response rate , the quality of these RCTs was poor . One CCT reported beneficial effects of Guasha on musculoskeletal pain but had low method ological quality . Conclusion Current evidence is insufficient to show that Guasha is effective in pain management . Further RCTs are warranted and method ological quality should be improved Health care policy background Findings from scientific studies form the basis for evidence -based health policy decisions . Scientific background Quality assessment s to evaluate the credibility of study results are an essential part of health technology assessment reports and systematic review s. Quality assessment tools ( QAT ) for assessing the study quality examine to what extent study results are systematic ally distorted by confounding or bias ( internal validity ) . The tools can be divided into checklists , scales and component ratings . Research questions What QAT are available to assess the quality of interventional studies or studies in the field of health economics , how do they differ from each other and what conclusions can be drawn from these results for quality assessment s ? Methods A systematic search of relevant data bases from 1988 onwards is done , supplemented by screening of the references , of the HTA reports of the German Agency for Health Technology Assessment ( DAHTA ) and an internet search . The selection of relevant literature , the data extraction and the quality assessment are carried out by two independent review ers . The substantive elements of the QAT are extracted using a modified criteria list consisting of items and domains specific to r and omized trials , observational studies , diagnostic studies , systematic review s and health economic studies . Based on the number of covered items and domains , more and less comprehensive QAT are distinguished . In order to exchange experiences regarding problems in the practical application of tools , a workshop is hosted . Results A total of eight systematic method ological review s is identified as well as 147 QAT : 15 for systematic review s , 80 for r and omized trials , 30 for observational studies , 17 for diagnostic studies and 22 for health economic studies . The tools vary considerably with regard to the content , the performance and quality of operationalisation . Some tools do not only include the items of internal validity but also the items of quality of reporting and external validity . No tool covers all elements or domains . Design -specific generic tools are presented , which cover most of the content criteria . Discussion The evaluation of QAT by using content criteria is difficult , because there is no scientific consensus on the necessary elements of internal validity , and not all of the generally accepted elements are based on empirical evidence . Comparing QAT with regard to contents neglects the operationalisation of the respective parameters , for which the quality and precision are important for transparency , replicability , the correct assessment and interrater reliability . QAT , which mix items on the quality of reporting and internal validity , should be avoided . Conclusions There are different , design -specific tools available which can be preferred for quality assessment , because of its wider coverage of substantive elements of internal validity . To minimise the subjectivity of the assessment , tools with a detailed and precise operationalisation of the individual elements should be applied . For health economic studies , tools should be developed and complemented with instructions , which define the appropriateness of the criteria . Further research is needed to identify study characteristics that influence the internal validity of studies Background : Trigger point dry needling ( TDN ) is commonly used to treat musculoskeletal pain related to myofascial trigger points ( MTrPs ) . To date , no systematic review of high- quality r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) investigating TDN to multiple body regions exists . Purpose : The aim of this review is to determine the effectiveness of TDN based on high- quality RCTs for all body regions . Methods : To ensure thorough reporting , Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review s and Meta-Analyses ( PRISMA ) guidelines were followed as the method ological basis for this systematic review . PubMed , Physiotherapy Evidence Data base ( PEDro ) , Cinahl , Cochrane and reference lists were search ed for the years 2000–2014 and the terms ‘ TDN ’ , ‘ dry needling NOT trigger point ’ , ‘ functional dry needling ’ and ‘ intramuscular manual therapy ’ . Inclusion criteria : RCTs with PEDro scores 6–10 investigating TDN . Exclusion criteria : duplicates , non-human participants , non-English language , exclusive focus on acupuncture or medicinal injections . Three investigators search ed data bases , applied criteria , read and assigned PEDro scores to every RCT . Nineteen studies met the criteria . As compared to either baseline or control groups , significant differences were found for pain ( 14 studies ) , range of motion ( ROM ) ( five studies ) and at least one item on function and quality of life measures ( six studies ) . Limitations : This review was limited by inclusion criteria , timeframe , language and data bases search ed . Conclusion : The majority of high- quality studies included in this review show measured benefit from TDN for MTrPs in multiple body areas , suggesting broad applicability of TDN treatment for multiple muscle groups . Further high- quality research is warranted to st and ardise TDN methods to determine clinical applicability Study Design . A descriptive study of repeated measures using a crossover design . Objective . To determine the level of agreement between assessment s obtained via telerehabilitation and those obtained by traditional face-to-face method in a population of individuals with chronic low back pain ( LBP ) in a primary care setting . Summary of Background Data . Musculoskeletal assessment using telerehabilitation has shown adequate inter- and intrarater agreement and concordance with face-to-face clinical assessment in different diseases . There have been no published studies on the reliability of a telerehabilitation system to assess LBP . Methods . Fifteen individuals ( 6 males ; mean age , 37 yr ) with chronic LBP attended a session for a clinical interview , followed by face-to-face and real-time online telerehabilitation evaluations . There was a 30-minute interval between the 2 assessment s , the order of which was r and omly selected for each patient . The telerehabilitation system used an Internet application conducted via Internet connection ( 17 kB/s ) between 2 personal computers . Real-time video connection facilitated communication between the therapist and the subject . Outcome measures included lumbar spine mobility , Sorensen test , anterior straight leg raise test , Oswestry Disability Index , visual analogue scale for pain , 12-Item Short Form Health Survey question naire , and Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale . Results . The & agr ; reliability between face-to-face and telerehabilitation evaluations was more than 0.80 for 7 of the 9 outcome measures . Lowest reliability was for lateral flexion range of motion ( & agr;= 0.75 ) . Very good inter- and intrarater intraclass correlation coefficients ( & rgr ; ) were obtained ( 0.92–0.96 ) . Conclusion . The findings of our pilot study suggest that this telerehabilitation system may be useful to assess individuals with chronic LBP , providing initial support for its implementation in primary care . Level of Evidence : AIMS To describe the empirical construction and initial validation of the Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test ( CUPIT ) , a brief self-report screening instrument for detection of currently and potentially problematic cannabis use . DESIGN In a three-phase prospect i ve design an item pool of c and i date questions was generated from a literature review and extensive expert consultation . The CUPIT internal structure , cross-sectional and longitudinal psychometric properties were then systematic ally tested among heterogeneous past-year users . PARTICIPANTS Volunteer participants were 212 high-risk adolescents ( n = 138 ) and adults ( n = 74 ) aged 13 - 61 years from multiple community setting s. MEASUREMENTS The comprehensive assessment battery included several established measures of cannabis-related pathology for CUPIT validation , with DSM-IV/ICD-10 diagnoses of cannabis use disorders as criterion st and ard . FINDINGS Sixteen items loading highly on two subscales derived from principal components analysis exhibited good to excellent test-retest ( 0.89 - 0.99 ) and internal consistency reliability ( 0.92 , 0.83 ) , and highly significant ability to discriminate diagnostic subgroups along the severity continuum ( non-problematic , risky , problematic use ) . Twelve months later , baseline CUPIT scores demonstrated highly significant longitudinal predictive utility for respondents ' follow-up diagnostic group membership . Receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) analysis identified a  CUPIT score of 12 to be the optimal cut-point for maximizing sensitivity for both currently diagnosable cannabis use disorder and those at risk of meeting diagnostic criteria in the following 12 months . CONCLUSIONS The CUPIT is a brief cannabis screener that is reliable , valid and acceptable for use across diverse community setting s and consumers of all ages . The CUPIT has clear potential to assist with achievement of public health goals to reduce cannabis-related harms in the community
The physiotherapy assessment s such as pain , swelling , range of motion , muscle strength , balance , gait and functional assessment demonstrated good concurrent validity .
Conclusion TR-based physiotherapy assessment was technically feasible with overall good concurrent validity and excellent reliability , except for lumbar spine posture , orthopaedic special tests , neurodynamic testa and scar assessment
Purpose The purpose of this review is to systematic ally explore and summarise the validity and reliability of telerehabilitation (TR)-based physiotherapy assessment for musculoskeletal disorders .