Protocol for systematic reviews of determinants/correlates of obesity-related dietary and physical activity behaviors in young children (preschool 0 to 6 years): evidence mapping and syntheses Efficacy of postural and neck-stabilization exercises for persons with acute whiplash-associated disorders: a systematic review. Risk Factors Associated with Falls in Older Adults with Dementia: A Systematic Review. Effectiveness of physical therapist administered spinal manipulation for the treatment of low back pain: a systematic review of the literature. Towards systematic reviews that inform health care management and policy-making The Effects of Exercise on Memory Function Among Young to Middle-Aged Adults: Systematic Review and Recommendations for Future Research A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Creative Arts Therapies in the Treatment of Adults With PTSD The burden and determinants of neck pain in workers: results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Prevention of cervical cancer in HIV-seropositive women from developing countries: a systematic review protocol Are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs effective for the management of neck pain and associated disorders, whiplash-associated disorders, or non-specific low back pain? A systematic review of systematic reviews by the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration Falls in frequent neurological diseases--prevalence, risk factors and aetiology. Resting blood pressure reductions following isometric handgrip exercise training and the impact of age and sex: protocol for a systematic review [Postoperative nausea and vomiting]. Interventions to reduce the incidence of falls in older adult patients in acute care hospitals: a systematic review Risk factors for falls in post-stroke patients treated in a neurorehabilitation ward. Where do all the undergraduate and new graduate nurses go and why? A search for empirical research evidence. Rehabilitation in patients with dementia following hip fracture: a systematic review. Exercise for fall risk reduction in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review. Can systematic reviews with sparse data be trusted? Alcohol, drugs, and psychiatric comorbidity among homeless women: an epidemiologic study. Falls prevention for the elderly Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline. Engaging medical librarians to improve the quality of review articles.
Background The aim of these review s is to inform the design and content of interventions to reduce obesity in young children . The behaviors that are associated with obesity/overweight have been studied extensively ; however , the factors associated with these behaviors in young children ( 0 to 6 years ) have not been systematic ally review ed . Over the past few years the focus of obesity prevention has shifted to preschool children because of the high prevalence of obesity at school entry and recognition that habits formed in early life could track into adulthood . In order to develop effective interventions and change behavior , it is important to underst and the factors that are associated with those behaviors . For example , we need to underst and whether it would be more important to target the family , childcare setting s or the wider environment and identify the most effective way of changing these energy balance related behaviors . Methods / Design Quantitative ( intervention and observational ) and qualitative literature on determinants/correlates of fruit and vegetable intake , sugar sweetened beverage and other unhealthy diet intake , and physical activity and sedentary behaviors in young children will be systematic ally identified , mapped and review ed . A common search strategy ( no language or period restrictions ) will be used to identify papers from eight electronic data bases and this will be supplemented by h and - search ing . Next , studies in developed countries that examine the factors associated with these behaviors in children aged 0 to 6 years ( at baseline ) will be screened and mapped descriptively followed by in-depth data extraction , quality assessment and synthesis . Data from quantitative studies will be summarized using either forest plots or harvest plots and narrative synthesis , and qualitative studies using thematic analysis . Qualitative evidence will be integrated with the quantitative evidence , using a parallel synthesis approach , to provide a deeper underst and ing of effective strategies to influence these energy balance related behaviors . Discussion In addition to updating and mapping current research , these review s will be the first to comprehensively synthesize and integrate both the quantitative and qualitative evidence pertaining to determinants/correlates/barriers/facilitators of obesity related behaviors in this young age group ( 0 to 6 years ) with the aim of informing future interventions . Systematic review registration International Prospect i ve Register for Systematic Review s ( PROSPERO ) Registration number : 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 Purpose : People with dementia fall more often than cognitively healthy older adults , but their risk factors are not well understood . A review is needed to determine a fall risk profile for this population . The objective was to critically evaluate the literature and identify the factors associated with fall risk in older adults with dementia . Methods : Articles published between January 1988 and October 2014 in EMBASE , PubMed , PsycINFO , and CINAHL were search ed . Inclusion criteria were participants aged 55 years or older with dementia or cognitive impairment , prospect i ve cohort design , detailed fall definition , falls as the primary outcome , and multi-variable regression analysis . Two authors independently review ed and extracted data on study characteristics , quality assessment , and outcomes . Adjusted risk estimates were extracted from the articles . Results : A total of 17 studies met the inclusion criteria . Risk factors were categorized into demographic , balance , gait , vision , functional status , medications , psychosocial , severity of dementia , and other . Risk factors varied with living setting and were not consistent across all studies within a setting . Conclusion : Falls in older adults with dementia are associated with multiple intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors , some shared with older adults in general and others unique to the disease . Risk factors vary between community- and institution-dwelling sample s of adults with dementia or cognitive impairment 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 Objectives To identify ways to improve the usefulness of systematic review s for health care managers and policy-makers that could then be evaluated prospect ively . Methods We systematic ally review ed studies of decision-making by health care managers and policy-makers , conducted interviews with a purposive sample of them in Canada and the United Kingdom ( n=29 ) , and review ed the websites of research funders , producers/purveyors of research , and journals that include them among their target audiences ( n=45 ) . Results Our systematic review identified that factors such as interactions between research ers and health care policy-makers and timing/timeliness appear to increase the prospect s for research use among policy-makers . Our interviews with health care managers and policy-makers suggest that they would benefit from having information that is relevant for decisions highlighted for them ( e.g. context ual factors that affect a review 's local applicability and information about the benefits , harms/risks and costs of interventions ) and having review s presented in a way that allows for rapid scanning for relevance and then grade d entry ( such as one page of take-home messages , a three-page executive summary and a 25-page report ) . Managers and policy-makers have mixed views about the helpfulness of recommendations . Our analysis of websites found that context ual factors were rarely highlighted , recommendations were often provided and grade d entry formats were rarely used . Conclusions Research ers could help to ensure that the future flow of systematic review s will better inform health care management and policy-making by involving health care managers and policy-makers in their production and better highlighting information that is relevant for decisions . Research funders could help to ensure that the global stock of systematic review s will better inform health care management and policy-making by supporting and evaluating local adaptation processes such as developing and making available online more user-friendly ‘ front ends ’ for potentially relevant systematic review Objective : To systematic ally summarize the experimental effects of exercise on cognitive-related memory function among young to middle-aged adults , which has yet to be done in the literature . Data Source : PubMed . Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria : Studies were included if they were published in the English language , indexed in PubMed , employed an experimental study design ( eg , traditional parallel group r and omized controlled trial : either acute intervention or chronic/training intervention study ) , and conducted among human adults . Studies were excluded if nonhumans ( ie , animal models ) were studied , if children/adolescents ( < 18 years ) or older adults ( > 50 years ) were evaluated , and if select chronic diseases ( eg , diabetes and dementia ) were present . Data Extraction : A systematic review approach was employed . Data Synthesis : An extraction table was created synthesizing the key results , and recommendations for future research are emphasized . Results : Among the 17 evaluated studies , 2 were published before the year 2000 ( ie , 1998 and 1999 ) , 2 were published in 2007 , and the remaining 13 were published in the years 2011 and beyond . This highlights the emergence of this research topic within this age-group ( young to middle-aged adults ) . Among the 17 evaluated studies , 14 were conducted among healthy sample s , with 3 conducted among those with a diagnosis of depression . Among the 17 studies , 4 employed a chronic training protocol , with 13 utilizing an acute exercise protocol . Among the 3 experimental studies in the depressed population , all demonstrated a favorable effect of exercise on memory function . Among the 14 trials in the nondepressed population , 10 ( 71 % ) demonstrated a favorable effect of exercise on some aspect of memory function . Conclusion : Acute and chronic exercise appears to play a pronounced effect on memory function  among young to middle-aged adults . Implication s and recommendations for future research are outlined in this systematic review Objective : There is a growing body of literature supporting the use of creative arts therapies ; however , the efficacy of creative arts therapies in the treatment of  posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD )  has not been systematic ally evaluated . The aim of this systematic review was to examine the efficacy of creative arts therapy including music therapy , art therapy , dance/movement therapy , and drama therapy , in the treatment of PTSD . Method : Ten data bases were search ed for peer- review ed literature published from inception to December 2016 . Studies were included in the review if they used a r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) , a pseudo RCT , or a controlled study design ; tested the efficacy of one of the creative arts therapies described above ; and reported changes to PTSD diagnosis or symptomatology . Results : From an initial yield of 1,918 records , 1,653 records were screened on title and abstract and 125 were screened at full-text . Seven studies met the inclusion criteria for review , with four studies investigating art therapy , two studies investigating music therapy , and a final study investigating drama therapy . Individual studies were initially rated on a st and ardized quality and bias checklist , and then GRADE was used to rate the overall evidence for each intervention . The evidence for music therapy , art therapy , and drama therapy  was ranked as low to very low , with no studies found for dance/movement therapy . Generally , the quality of the trials was very poor . Future directions for this field of research are to improve the scientific quality of the research trials in this area STUDY DESIGN Systematic review and best evidence synthesis . OBJECTIVES To describe the prevalence and incidence of  neck pain and disability in workers ; to identify risk factors for neck pain in workers ; to propose an etiological diagram ; and to make recommendations for future research . SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Previous review s of the etiology of neck pain in workers relied on cross-sectional evidence . Recently published cohorts and r and omized trials warrant a re- analysis of this body of research . METHODS We systematic ally search ed Medline for literature published from 1980 - 2006 . Retrieved articles were review ed for relevance . Relevant articles were critically appraised . Articles judged to have adequate internal validity were included in our best evidence synthesis . RESULTS One hundred and nine papers on the burden and determinants of neck pain in workers were scientifically admissible . The annual prevalence of neck pain varied from 27.1 % in Norway to 47.8 % in Québec , Canada . Each year , between 11 % and 14.1 % of workers were limited in their activities because of neck pain . Risk factors associated with neck pain in workers include age , previous musculoskeletal pain , high quantitative job dem and s , low social support at work , job insecurity , low physical capacity , poor computer workstation design and work posture , sedentary work position , repetitive work and precision work . We found preliminary evidence that gender , occupation , headaches , emotional problems , smoking , poor job satisfaction , awkward work postures , poor physical work environment , and workers ' ethnicity may be associated with neck pain . There is evidence that interventions aim ed at modifying workstations and worker posture are not effective in reducing the incidence of neck pain in workers . CONCLUSION Neck disorders are a significant source of pain and activity limitations in workers . Most neck pain results from complex relationships between individual and workplace risk factors . No prevention strategies have been shown to reduce the incidence of neck pain in workers 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 Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ) for the management of neck pain and associated disorders ( NAD ) , whiplash-associated disorders , and non-specific low back pain ( LBP ) with or without radiculopathy . Methods We systematic ally search ed six data bases from 2000 to 2014 . R and om pairs of independent review ers critically appraised eligible systematic review s using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network criteria . We included systematic review s with a low risk of bias in our best evidence synthesis . Results We screened 706 citations and 14 systematic review s were eligible for critical appraisal . Eight systematic review s had a low risk of bias . For recent-onset NAD , evidence suggests that intramuscular NSAIDs lead to similar outcomes as combined manipulation and soft tissue therapy . For NAD ( duration not specified ) , oral NSAIDs may be more effective than placebo . For recent-onset LBP , evidence suggests that : ( 1 ) oral NSAIDs lead to similar outcomes to placebo or a muscle relaxant ; and ( 2 ) oral NSAIDs with bed rest lead to similar outcomes as placebo with bed rest . For persistent LBP , evidence suggests that : ( 1 ) oral NSAIDs are more effective than placebo ; and ( 2 ) oral NSAIDs may be more effective than acetaminophen . For recent-onset LBP with radiculopathy , there is inconsistent evidence on the effectiveness of oral NSAIDs versus placebo . Finally , different oral NSAIDs lead to similar outcomes for neck and LBP with or without radiculopathy . Conclusions For NAD , oral NSAIDs may be more effective than placebo . Oral NSAIDs are more effective than placebo for persistent LBP , but not for recent-onset LBP . Different oral NSAIDs lead to similar outcomes for neck pain and LBP The prevalence of falls among neurological patients is unknown , although disturbances of gait and posture are common . Falls may lead to burdens for the patient , the caregivers and the health system . We design ed a prospect i ve study and investigated all patients for a history of falls admitted to a neurological hospital during a 100-day period . Clinical investigation was carried out and several disease specific rating scales were applied . A total of 548 patients were investigated . Of all patients 34 % had fallen once or more often during the last twelve months . A disturbance of gait was blamed for the fall in 55 % , epileptic seizures in 12 % , syncope in 10 % and stroke in 7 % . Intrinsic risk factors for falls were high age , disturbed gait , poor balance and a fear of falling . As extrinsic factors we identified the treatment with antidepressants , neuroleptics and different cardiovascular medications , adverse environmental factors in the patients ' home and the use of walking aids . Within the diagnoses , falls were most frequent in Parkinson 's disease ( 62 % ) , syncope ( 57 % ) and polyneuropathy ( 48 % ) . According to these findings falls in neurological in- patients are twice as frequent as in an age-matched population living in the community . Falls in neurological patients are particularly linked to medication and disorders affecting gait and balance Background The risk of developing cardiovascular disease is directly correlated to one ’s resting blood pressure ( BP ) , age , and biological sex . Resting BP can be reduced using h and grip exercise training , but the impact of age and sex on the effectiveness of training is not well documented . Methods / design A systematic search of the literature will be conducted for all experimental studies ( including r and omized controlled trials and prospect i ve experiments ) that report the influence of isometric h and grip exercise training on resting systolic blood pressure . The data bases Medline , Embase , Cochrane Review s , Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature ( CINAHL ) , SPORTD iscus , Web of Science , Allied and Complementary Medicine ( AMED ) , PubMed , and Scopus will be search ed until 1 December 2015 . Screening of potential articles , data abstract ion , and quality appraisal will be completed in duplicate independently . When necessary , corresponding authors will be contacted in order to facilitate the separation of pooled data into age and sex categories . Method ological quality will be determined using the Quality Assessment Framework developed by the Cochrane Collaboration and the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale as appropriate . Any discrepancies will be resolved by a third author . Findings will be presented in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic review s and meta- analysis ( PRISMA ) guidelines . Discussion This systematic review will determine the overall effectiveness  of h and grip exercise training in improving resting blood pressure . A novel , focused assessment will contrast  effectiveness of h and grip training  based on the age ( younger 18–54 years , older > 55 years ) and the sex ( men , women ) of study participants . This information is essential to consoli date before moving forward with the development and implementation of h and grip exercise training programmes which are design ed to best meet the needs of particular cohorts . Systematic review registration PROSPERO During the last years huge amounts of literature have been review ed systematic ally . Recently , guidelines have been proposed . For the first time a large prospect i ve study has been performed on the effect of combining antiemetics . In this review we try to propose a rational approach to  postoperative nausea and vomiting .  The scoring of patients at risk , rational anaesthetic agents , prophylactic administration of antiemetics to patients at risk and effective postoperative antiemetic treatment are suggested Background Falls can have a considerable impact on a patients ' well being , they can result in serious physical and emotional injury , poor quality of life and increased length of hospital stay . Most of the current literature recommends a comprehensive approach to fall prevention that addresses a wide variety of risk factors and involves the use of risk assessment . Objective The objective of this review was to present the best available evidence for the effectiveness of interventions design ed to reduce the incidence of falls in older adult patients in acute care hospitals . Inclusion Criteria Types of Studies Only r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) assessing the effectiveness of risk assessment or other interventions that aim ed to minimise the number of falls were included . Types of Participants Participants were older adult in patients ( defined as aged 65 years or over ) in acute care hospitals . Types of Interventions This review focused on interventions design ed to assess the risk of falling or those used to minimise the risk of falling in older adult hospital patients . These interventions were compared to either st and ard practice , which included any method or technique already in place at the facility , or no intervention . Types of Outcome measures The primary outcome was the number of patient falls during hospitalisation . Search Strategy A search for published and unpublished literature from 1998 to 2008 published in the English language was conducted using all major electronic data bases . A three‐step search strategy was developed using MeSH terminology and keywords to ensure that all material relevant to the review was captured . Assessment of Quality The method ological quality of included studies was assessed by two review ers , who appraised each study independently , using st and ardised Joanna Briggs Institute ( JBI ) critical appraisal tools Data Collection and Analysis Data was extracted from the studies that were identified as meeting the criteria for method ological quality using the st and ard JBI data extraction tools . Due to the heterogeneity of population s and interventions , meta‐analyses were not possible and results are presented in narrative form . Results and Conclusions Seven studies were included in the review . The evidence on interventions for reducing the number of falls in older adults during their stay in an acute health care facility is sparse . There is some evidence to suggest that certain multifactorial interventions are more effective than others and that increasing patient education or targeting fall risk factors may be of benefit . Further high quality research is needed in order to ascertain effective fall prevention strategies in acute care facilities . Implication s for Practice There are some evidence to suggest that implementing the following interventions in acute hospitals may be effective in reducing the amount of falls of older adult in patients : ˙ a multidisciplinary multifactorial intervention program consisting of a falls risk alert card , an exercise program , an education program and the use of hip protectors after approximately 45 days ˙ a one‐on‐one patient education package entailing information on risk factors and preventative strategies for falls as well as goal setting ˙ a targeted falls risk factor reduction intervention that includes a falls risk factor screen , recommended interventions encompassing local advice and a summary of the evidence There is some evidence to suggest that implementing a multidisciplinary multifactorial intervention that consists of systematic assessment and treatment of fall risk factors , as well as active management of postoperative complications can reduce the amount of falls in patients with femoral neck fracture following surgery . Implication s for Research Better design ed RCTs that distinguish subgroups of population s ( for example people with or without cognitive impairment ) and that targets interventions at specific groups is required . Further research that focuses on individual intervention components that are part of larger multifactorial interventions are also warranted BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Patients with neurological disorders , including post-stroke patients , are at high risk for falls . The purpose of the study was to estimate the number and type of falls and fall-related injuries in patients of a neurological rehabilitation ward and to identify risk factors for falls . MATERIAL AND METHODS 353 consecutive post-stroke patients of the Neurorehabilitation Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw were enrolled into the study and observed during the hospital stay . Falls occurring in patients during their hospital stay were registered and an analysis of fall-related data and the routinely obtained medical data was performed . RESULTS In the evaluated group , 35 ( 10 % ) patients suffered 50 falls , which corresponds to an incidence rate of 5.02 [ 95 % confidence interval ( 95 % CI ) : 3.70 - 6.52 ] falls per 1000 patient-days . Most falls occurred in patients ' rooms ( 80 % ) , most of them taking place while transferring from one place to another or while changing position . 2 % of falls caused severe injury . There was a higher percentage of patients with unilateral neglect in the group of fallers ( p=0.0007 ) , who also demonstrated poorer performance in activities of daily living as expressed by the Rankin score ( p < 0.0002 ) and the Barthel Index ( p < 0.0001 ) , and greater neurological deficit in the Sc and inavian Stroke Scale ( SSS ) ( p=0.002 ) at admission as well as at discharge from hospital than non-fallers . The risk of a fall showed greatest association with low Barthel Index at admission ( < 15/20 ; RR=10.3 ; 95 % CI : 2.8 - 50.7 ) , performance in the Rankin score of > 3 ( RR=5.12 ; 95 % CI : 2,41 - 14,8 ) , low SSS score on admission ( 0 - 39 ; RR=3.40 ; 95 % CI : 1.62 - 9.14 ) , and the presence of hemispatial neglect ( RR=3.42 ; 95 % CI : 1.23 - 6.53 ) . The multiple-fallers group did not differ significantly from the group of single-fallers . CONCLUSIONS Among post-stroke patients , falls are a complication especially affecting persons with a large neurological deficit , severe disability and the neglect syndrome OBJECTIVE To review the published scientific literature for studies quantifying or examining factors associated with the attrition of undergraduate nursing students in pre- registration programs and the retention of graduate nurses in the workforce . METHODS The following selection criteria were used to systematic ally search the literature : target population s were either students in pre- registration nursing programs or registered nurses in their graduate year ; the studies were to be primary observational or analytical ( cross-sectional , case-control or prospect i ve cohort studies ) in design ; and outcome measures were attrition in undergraduate programs and /or retention of graduates within the workforce . Three authors guided by a st and ardised procedure performed data extraction and quality assessment independently . Synthesis of the data appears in text and tabular format . Due to the heterogenic nature of the study methods , meta- analysis was not possible . RESULTS This review found only four studies that met all inclusion criteria . All four studies examined undergraduate attrition as an outcome with two studies reporting a range of 25 - 27 % attrition within the first year . No studies were found that quantified or examined retention of new graduates as an outcome measure . Only two of the four studies followed cohorts of students prospect ively and were able to provide a high level of evidence , although each of these studies was design ed to assess specific exposures as potential predictors of attrition , rather than assess actual factors associated with students leaving their program . CONCLUSION There is a paucity of research studies in the literature from which evidence quantifying attrition and retention and the reasons why students leave undergraduate nursing programs or new graduates leave the profession can be obtained . Clearly there is a need to systematic ally track undergraduates and new graduates to quantify and underst and attrition , retention and workforce choices within the nursing profession and begin to build this evidence -base PURPOSE Best rehabilitation practice s after hip fracture for people with dementia have not been established . A systematic review was conducted to determine current evidence for rehabilitation in this population , including residents in continuing care . METHODS St and ardized review methodology was used to search eight data bases for literature on  hip-fracture rehabilitation for people with dementia . Eligible studies included participants with dementia who had a hip fracture ; performed a rehabilitation intervention ; and evaluated one or more of function , ambulation , discharge location , or falls . The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess validity . RESULTS A total of 13 studies were included : five r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) , seven prospect i ve cohort series , and one retrospective cohort study . Average quality ratings for RCTs and cohort studies were good and fair respectively . Participants with mild to moderate dementia receiving rehabilitation showed similar relative gains in function to those without dementia . Only one study examined the effect of rehabilitation among residents in continuing care . CONCLUSIONS People with mild or moderate dementia may show improved function and ambulation and decreased fall risk after rehabilitation post hip fracture , similar to gains achieved by those without dementia . More research is required to ascertain the effect of rehabilitation in people with moderate to severe dementia , including those residing in continuing-care setting s. Purpose : Best rehabilitation practice s after hip fracture for people with dementia have not been established . A systematic review was conducted to determine current evidence for rehabilitation in this population , including residents in continuing care . Methods : St and ardized review methodology was used to search eight data bases for literature on hip-fracture rehabilitation for people with dementia . Eligible studies included participants with dementia who had a hip fracture ; performed a rehabilitation intervention ; and evaluated one or more of  function , ambulation , discharge location , or falls . The Newcastle – Ottawa Scale was used to assess validity . Results : A total of 13 studies were included : five r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) , seven prospect i ve cohort series , and one retrospective cohort study . Average quality ratings for RCTs and cohort studies were good and fair respectively . Participants with mild to moderate dementia receiving rehabilitation showed similar relative gains in function to those without dementia . Only one study examined the effect of rehabilitation among residents in continuing care . Conclusions : People with mild or moderate dementia may show improved function and ambulation and decreased fall risk after rehabilitation post hip fracture , similar to gains achieved by those without dementia . More research is required to ascertain the effect of rehabilitation in people with moderate to severe dementia , including those residing in continuing-care setting PURPOSE To evaluate the influence of exercise on falls and fall risk reduction  in community-dwelling older adults and to present an up date d synthesis of outcome measures for the assessment of fall risk in community-dwelling older adults . METHOD A systematic review was performed , considering English- language articles published from 2000 to 2006 and accessible through MEDLINE , CINAHL , PEDro , EMBASE , and /or AMED . Included were r and omized controlled clinical trials ( RCTs ) that used an exercise or physical activity intervention and involved participants over age 50 . Screening and method ological quality for internal validity were conducted by two independent review ers . RESULTS The search retrieved 156 abstract s ; 22 articles met the internal validity criteria . Both individualized and group exercise programmes were found to be effective in reducing falls and fall risk . The optimal type , frequency , and dose of exercise to achieve a positive effect have not been determined . A variety of outcome measures have been used to measure fall risk , especially for balance . CONCLUSIONS Falls and fall risk can be reduced with exercise interventions in the community-dwelling elderly , although the most effective exercise variables are unknown . Future studies in population s with comorbidities known to increase fall risk will help determine optimal , condition-specific fall-prevention programmes . Poor balance is a key risk factor for falls ; therefore , the best measure of this variable should be selected when evaluating patients at risk of falling Systematic review s are increasingly used to answer clinical questions . Their popularity is partly attributable to their apparent clinical superiority in providing quick summaries of evidence from the ever-growing medical literature ( more than 750,000 items annually [ 1 ] ) , but also thanks to the great impact of the Cochrane Collaboration in promoting the use of the systematic review [ 2 ] . We also note that many scientific journals favour systematic review s because they tend to contribute to higher journal impact factors . However , the rise of systematic review s should give cause for concern ; more than 8000 are being indexed in MEDLINE annually , reflecting a three-fold increase over the last decade [ 3 ] . We write ‘ concern ’ , because many of these review s across healthcare seem to fall short of essential requirements such as incorporating risk of bias assessment in meta-analyses ( only 16 % ) , search ing for unpublished data ( only 7 % ) , or not fully following a protocol ( only one-third [ 3 ] ) . A recent study of review s published in anaesthetic journals revealed similar shortfalls [ 4 ] . Further more , the quality of reporting is lower in some countries and in journals with lower impact factors [ 5 , 6 ] . The apparent poor quality of many published systematic review s greatly increases the risk of misleading conclusions , which ultimately could harm our patients [ 7 ] . Despite their veneer of sophistication , one has to bear in mind that systematic review s are , in essence , retrospective appraisal s of the evidence . Editors , writers and readers should exercise great caution when interpreting conclusions of review s that only include very few trials , even when they fulfill the required st and ards [ 3 ] . Despite great efforts to promote adequate quality of review s through international guidelines such as PRISMA , GRADE and the Cochrane H and book [ 8 ] , the majority of review s may suffer from threats to the validity of their findings due to risk of systematic errors ( bias ) , design errors ( i.e. , erroneous selection of patients , doses of medication , comparators , analyses , outcomes ) and r and om error ( play of chance ) [ 9 ] . In a previous publication in this journal , some of the method ological issues and requirements for authors and editors were thoroughly discussed [ 10 ] . But we believe that other issues need to be addressed , in particular the amount of information included in meta-analyses from systematic review s , with the power this brings BACKGROUND Very little is known about the mental health of homeless women . The present study is one of the first to focus on psychiatric diagnosis and comorbidity in a population of homeless women systematic ally interviewed with a structured instrument . METHOD Three hundred homeless women r and omly selected from St. Louis shelters were interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule ( DIS ) . RESULTS The population of homeless women in St. Louis is predominantly young adult , single , and black ; most have young children and average nearly a high school education . Schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder account for only a small portion of the mental illness in these women . Nearly one in three has a history of substance abuse , with drug abuse being more prevalent than alcoholism . One third of the sample met lifetime criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder . One fourth of the women have received  inpatient psychiatric care  , and the majority with a nonsubstance Axis I diagnosis have received some  mental health treatment .  CONCLUSION Although major mental illness is overrepresented among these homeless women , the majority do not suffer from major mental illness . Despite the severity of the stressors these women face , the large numbers escaping psychiatric disorders speak to their resilience and to the likelihood that important factors other than mental illness contribute to their homelessness . Future studies to examine positive outcomes and investigate protective factors might provide a valuable source of information on coping with the stresses associated with homelessness and point to more effective interventions Background An ageing population , a growing prevalence of chronic diseases and limited financial re sources for health care underpin the importance of prevention of disabling health disorders and care dependency in the elderly . A wide variety of measures is generally available for the prevention of falls and fall-related injuries . The spectrum ranges from diagnostic procedures for identifying individuals at risk of falling to complex interventions for the removal or reduction of identified risk factors . However , the clinical and economic effectiveness of the majority of recommended strategies for fall prevention is unclear . Against this background , the literature analyses in this HTA report aim to support decision-making for effective and efficient fall prevention . Research questions The pivotal research question addresses the effectiveness of single interventions and complex programmes for the prevention of falls and fall-related injuries . The target population are the elderly ( > 60 years ) , living in their own housing or in long term care facilities . Further research questions refer to the cost-effectiveness of fall prevention measures , and their ethical , social and legal implication s. Methods Systematic literature search es were performed in 31 data bases covering the publication period from January 2003 to January 2010 . While the effectiveness of interventions is solely assessed on the basis of r and omised controlled trials ( RCT ) , the assessment of the effectiveness of diagnostic procedures also considers prospect i ve accuracy studies . In order to clarify social , ethical and legal aspects all studies deemed relevant with regard to content were taken into consideration , irrespective of their study design . Study selection and critical appraisal were conducted by two independent assessors . Due to clinical heterogeneity of the studies no meta-analyses were performed . Results Out of 12,000 references retrieved by literature search es , 184 meet the inclusion criteria . However , to a variable degree the validity of their results must be rated as compromised due to different biasing factors . In summary , it appears that the performance of tests or the application of parameters to identify individuals at risk of falling yields little or no clinical ly relevant information . Positive effects of exercise interventions  may be expected in relatively young and healthy seniors , while studies indicate opposite effects in the fragile elderly . For this specific vulnerable population the modification of the housing environment shows protective effects . A low number of studies , low quality of studies or inconsistent results lead to the conclusion that the effectiveness of the following interventions has to be rated unclear yet : correction of vision disorders , modification of psychotropic medication , vitamin D supplementation , nutritional supplements , psychological interventions , education of nursing personnel , multiple and multifactorial programs as well as the application of hip protectors . For the context of the German health care system the  economic evaluations of fall prevention  retrieved by the literature search es yield very few useful results . Cost-effectiveness calculations of fall prevention are mostly based on weak effectiveness data as well as on epidemiological and cost data from foreign health care systems . Ethical analysis demonstrates ambivalent views of the target population concerning fall risk and the necessity of fall prevention . The willingness to take up preventive measures depends on a variety of personal factors , the quality of information , guidance and decision-making , the prevention program itself and social support . The analysis of papers regarding legal issues shows three main challenges : the uncertainty of which st and ard of care has to be expected with regard to fall prevention , the necessity to consider the specific conditions of every single case when measures for fall prevention are applied , and the difficulty to balance the rights to autonomous decision making and physical integrity . Discussion and conclusions The assessment of clinical effectiveness of interventions for fall prevention is complicated by inherent method ological problems ( esp . absence of blinding ) and meaningful clinical heterogeneity of available studies . Therefore meta-analyses are not appropriate , and single study results are difficult to interpret . Both problems also impair the informative value of economic analyses . With this background it has to be stated that current recommendations regarding fall prevention in the elderly are not fully supported by scientific evidence . In particular , for the generation of new recommendations the dependency of probable effects on specific characteristics of the target population s or care setting s should be taken into consideration . This also applies to the variable factors influencing the willingness of the target population to take up and pursue preventive measures . In the planning of future studies equal weight should be placed on method ological rigour ( freedom from biases ) and transferability of results into routine care . Economic analyses require input of German data , either in form of a “ piggy back study “ or in form of a modelling study that reflects the structures of the German health care system and is based on German epidemiological and cost data Purpose To increase awareness , outline strategies , and offer guidance on the recommended management of immune-related adverse events in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor ( ICPi ) therapy .  Methods A multidisciplinary , multi-organizational panel of experts in medical oncology , dermatology , gastroenterology , rheumatology , pulmonology , endocrinology , urology , neurology , hematology , emergency medicine , nursing , trialist , and advocacy was convened to develop the clinical practice guideline . Guideline development involved a systematic review of the literature and an informal consensus process . The systematic review focused on guidelines , systematic review s and meta-analyses , r and omized controlled trials , and case series published from 2000 through 2017 . Results The systematic review identified 204 eligible publications . Much of the evidence consisted of systematic review s of observational data , consensus guidelines , case series , and case reports . Due to the paucity of high- quality evidence on management of immune-related adverse events , recommendations are based on expert consensus . Recommendations Recommendations for specific organ system-based toxicity diagnosis and management are presented . While management varies according to organ system affected , in general , ICPi therapy should be continued with close monitoring for grade 1 toxicities , with the exception of some neurologic , hematologic , and cardiac toxicities .  ICPi therapy may be suspended for most grade 2 toxicities , with consideration of resuming when symptoms revert to grade 1 or less . Corticosteroids may be administered . Grade 3 toxicities generally warrant suspension of ICPis and the initiation of high-dose corticosteroids ( prednisone 1 to 2 mg/kg/d or methylprednisolone 1 to 2 mg/kg/d ) . Corticosteroids should be tapered over the course of at least 4 to 6 weeks . Some refractory cases may require infliximab or other immunosuppressive therapy . In general , permanent discontinuation of ICPis is recommended with grade 4 toxicities , with the exception of endocrinopathies that have been controlled by hormone replacement . Additional information is available at www.asco.org/supportive-care- guidelines and www.asco.org/ guidelines wiki Review articles published in JAMA summarize various aspects of medical practice and are written by known authorities . An expert ’s opinion about a topic has value , but often more can be learned by that expert ’s assessment of all the pertinent literature . When reading individual research articles , readers could miss subtle features of the studies that are more apparent to an expert clinician research er . Readers benefit from the expert ’s explanation of the validity and applicability of individual studies . When authors summarize the literature , a natural tendency is to select articles supporting their views . To minimize this potential for bias , JAMA editors ask authors to systematic ally review the literature and comment on as much of it as is practical . Extensive literature search es can be difficult to perform , given the complexity of the search process and authors ’ time constraints . It is also unlikely that a content expert will be familiar with the intricacies of more than one data base . Empirical evidence provides a strong rationale for search ing multiple data bases . 1,2 For this reason , collaborating with medical librarians is recommended when writing review articles . A general approach for this collaboration is presented in the Box . Preliminary search es conducted by a librarian can help refine the question and determine its feasibility and scope . These initial screening search es can also inform the development of the review ’s prospect i ve inclusion and exclusion criteria . The choice of data base depends on several factors . Most important is the content ( topic )
Among the multiple risk factors studied , a reduced performance in balance and gait was consistently associated with falls , while the contribution of single physical and cognitive impairments was variable in different population s. Walking aids , wheelchair characteristics and environmental hazards are significant environmental risk factors .
Falling is a common problem among young patients affected by neurological disorders , although the risk of falling for a specific individual is difficult to predict and the risk of a severe fall-related injury has not yet been established .
IMPLICATION S FOR REHABILITATION Young patients with impaired gait and balance or medium to severe motor disability appear to be at increased risk of falling .
Patients who are relatively independent and still participating in challenging activities have an increased exposure to fall-risk .
Walking aids , wheelchair characteristics and environmental hazards are significant environmental risk factors .
PURPOSE To review systematic ally the literature on fall risk factors for young patients affected by neurological disorders .