Objective: This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of different communication strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and willingness. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), following recommendations from the Cochrane Handbook and reporting according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. Data sources: We searched the following databases until 27 July 2022: Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection and WHO COVID-19 Global literature. Eligibility criteria for study selection: We included RCTs investigating, any population, communication-based interventions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and comparing these with no intervention (with or without placebo), another communication strategy or another type of intervention. Methods: Screening, data extraction and bias assessment, using the Cochrane ROB 1.0 tool, were conducted by two authors independently. We performed meta-analyses if studies were homogeneous using the Review Manager (RevMan 5) software, synthesised the remaining results narratively and assessed the certainty in the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Results: We identified 49 studies reporting on the predefined four categories of communication interventions. Evidence from our meta-analyses shows that COVID-19 vaccine uptake may increase when education and information strategies are applied (risk ratio (RR) 1.23, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.28; high-certainty evidence) or social norms are communicated (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.33; high-certainty evidence) compared with no intervention. The different communication strategies mostly have little to no impact on vaccine intention; however, there may be a slight increase in vaccine confidence when gain framing is applied compared with no intervention. Conclusion: Overall, we found that education and information-based interventions or social norm-framing strategies are most effective compared with no intervention given. Our findings show that some of the investigated communication strategies might influence policy decision-making, and our results could be useful for future pandemics as well. Prospero registration number: PROSPERO (CRD42021296618).

Objective: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused a range of mental health problems, particularly self-harm. Lockdowns are the usual methods of responding to these public health emergencies. However, the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on self-harm remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of self-harm. The findings may inform future policy development and strategies for managing pandemic-related mental health challenges. Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted using several database searches: APA PsycINFO, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wan Fang. Published studies with data on the incidence of self-harm during visits to medical institutions, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, were included. The pooled risk ratio (RR) value of self-harm incidence variation before and during the COVID-19 lockdown period, expressed as the comparison of clinical institution visits before and during the pandemic, was calculated. Results: Fifteen retrospective cohort studies with observational designs involving 253,600 participants were included. The pooled RR value of self-harm incidence variation was 1.386 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.205-1.595, I2 = 58.9%, p = 0.002). The subgroup analysis showed that "emergency department type" (p = 0.004) and "mean age of the sample" were the sources of the RR values' heterogeneity (p = 0.026). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic was a risk factor for self-harm. Therefore, special attention should be paid to individuals visiting the emergency department and the middle-aged and elderly populations. The prospero registration: This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023373026), https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023373026.

Background: The internet + nursing service is an important initiative for implementing the strategy of healthy China and actively responding to the aging of the population. However, the current literature on residents' awareness and willingness to participate is insufficient and presents large variations and limitations. Therefore, this study aims to systematically evaluate the awareness and willingness of Chinese residents to participate in internet + nursing service to comprehensively understand the level of awareness and acceptance of this emerging service model among Chinese residents and to provide strong support for relevant policy formulation and service optimization. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, SinoMed, and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect cross-sectional studies related to the awareness and willingness of Chinese residents to participate in internet + nursing service from inception to January 2024. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Results: A total of 27 cross-sectional studies involving 11,761 subjects were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the percentage of Chinese residents willing to participate in internet + nursing service was 76.3% (95% CI [71.2%, 81.3%]). The results of the subgroup analysis showed that residents who lived in Western regions (82.1%), had employee medical insurance (85.9%), were suffering from other diseases (89.2%), were under the age of 60 (87.8%), were not married (78.9%), and had an undergraduate degree or above (85.5%) had a relatively high willingness to participate in internet + nursing service. The rate of awareness of internet + nursing service among Chinese residents was 48.6% (95% CI [24.1%, 73.2%]), which shows a downwards trend over time (67.4% in 2019, 56.1% in 2020, and 45.1% in 2021). Conclusion: The willingness to participate in internet + nursing service among Chinese residents is high, but the awareness rate is low. It is necessary to improve the awareness and willingness of Chinese residents to use internet + nursing service through various channels and aspects of publicity and promotion to achieve the goal of innovating the health service model, accurately connecting with the diverse health needs of people, and actively responding to the aging population.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in reducing loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. Design: A network meta-analysis (NMA) and systematic review. Setting and participants: Interventional studies were included if they contained original quantitative data on interventions to reduce loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. Qualitative studies were included if they contained views on loneliness coping strategies or intervention evaluation. Methods: Six English databases and 3 Chinese databases were searched for studies published before August 2023. We extracted mean and standard deviation for the NMA to examine the overall effectiveness and efficacy of different interventions on loneliness. Thematic analysis was used to derive perspectives on coping strategies to mitigate loneliness. Results: Forty-six quantitative studies with 6049 participants and 40 qualitative studies with 1095 participants were included in the analysis. The pooled effect size was large and significant [standardized mean difference (SMD), -0.95; 95% CI, -1.32 to -0.58; P < .001], indicating a strong effect of interventions in reducing loneliness. Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences in effect sizes by study region and health risk. Results of the NMA suggested interventions seem to be most effective when having psychosocial interventions as the content, a combination of individual and group as the delivery mode, and a mixture of face-to-face and online methods as the contact mode. Findings of the qualitative synthesis revealed 2 main dimensions of activities for reducing loneliness, including delivery modes (individual or group or combination) and settings (indoor or outdoor or combination). Strategies for coping with loneliness at the social, cognitive, and behavioral levels were also identified. Conclusions and implications: The present study identified the most effective components of loneliness interventions in reducing loneliness among older adults. Findings offer important insights for practice and policy-making on potential strategies that can be used to reduce loneliness among community-dwelling older adults.

Rationale and objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative CT scan-derived myocardial biomarkers in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Materials and methods: In April 2024, three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Embase) were searched to identify studies. A random-effects model for meta-analysis was conducted to calculate pooled hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess the prognostic value. The I2 statistic was used to assess heterogeneity. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to appraise which variables yielded a significant impact on the HR of included biomarkers. Results: 11 studies were identified, of which six studies involved 678 patients reporting extracellular volume fraction (ECV), one study involved 300 patients reporting ECV and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), three studies involved 868 patients reporting LVGLS and one study involved 376 patients reporting LVGLS and peak left atrial longitudinal strain (PALS). The endpoints included all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and a composite outcome of the previous two. The meta-analysis revealed that ECV, whether considered as a dichotomous variable (pooled HR: 3.87, 95% CI: 2.63-5.70, I2 = 0%), or as a continuous variable (pooled HR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.05-1.19, I2 = 66%), and LVGLS, whether considered as a dichotomous variable (pooled HR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.30-2.22, I2 = 0%) or a continuous variable (pooled HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.04-1.10, I2 = 0%) were all significant predictors for outcomes in patients with severe AS after TAVR. Age, sex, follow-up time and mean pressure gradient had a significant impact on the model of ECV (continuous). Conclusion: The higher CT-derived ECV and impaired LVGLS are able to predict worse outcomes in patients with severe AS who have undergone TAVR.

COVID-19 is not only associated with substantial acute liver and kidney injuries, but also with an elevated risk of post-acute sequelae involving the kidney and liver system. We aimed to investigate whether COVID-19 exposure increases the long-term risk of kidney and liver disease, and what are the magnitudes of these associations. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, , and the Living Overview of the Evidence COVID-19 Repository for cohort studies estimating the association between COVID-19 and kidney and liver outcomes. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to combine the results of the included studies. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Fifteen cohort studies with more than 32 million participants were included in the systematic review COVID-19 was associated with a 35% greater risk of kidney diseases (10 more per 1000 persons; low certainty evidence) and 54% greater risk of liver disease (3 more per 1000 persons; low certainty evidence). The absolute increases due to COVID-19 for acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and liver test abnormality were 3, 8, and 3 per 1000 persons, respectively. Subgroup analyses found no differences between different type of kidney and liver diseases. The findings provide further evidence for the association between COVID-19 and incident kidney and liver conditions. The absolute magnitude of the effect of COVID-19 on kidney and liver outcomes was, however, relatively small.

Background: The client's satisfaction after abortion care is the key to sustaining abortion care and increasing the health status of those who had complications from abortion. Nevertheless, research conducted in Ethiopia stated that the major problem is the need for post-abortion care for females. One of the ways to improve the qualities involved in post abortion care and decrease the mortality and morbidity rates caused by unsafe abortion is by ensuring client satisfaction with abortion care. Strategy making and policy formulation based on systematic review take on the highest priority in developing countries. However, although some independent studies had been carried out in Ethiopia, their findings might not have been representative and conclusive. The main purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis article is to establish the proportion of abortion clients who are satisfied with their abortion care and the factors that contribute to such satisfaction among clients in Ethiopia. Methods and materials: Only published articles were considered in this review. The main databases included Medline/Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, Cinael, Med Nar, Google Scholar, Scopus, the Ethiopian University Repository Online, and the Cochrane Library. The review includes cross-sectional studies that meet the requirements and were written in English. A random effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence of client satisfaction with abortion care. The study heterogeneity was tested using Cochrane Q-Static and I2. Publication bias was checked using the Eggers test and funnel plot. PRISMA was used to select and direct the selection of articles for this review. Statistical analyses were conducted using STATA version 14. Result: A review of ten studies comprised 2740 women. In summary, the pooled prevalence of client's satisfaction with abortion care in Ethiopia was 56.13% [95% CI (42.35; 69.91), I2 = 99.1%, p < 0.001]. In terms of subgroup analysis, Gambella had the highest prevalence of client satisfaction with abortion care at 87.40% [95% CI: 82.38 and 91.82]. However, Amhara had the lowest: 25.00% [95% CI: 21.59, 28.41]. The review also found that client satisfaction with abortion care had a statistical correlation with the type of procedure [OR: 0.25, CI [0.07, 0.42], I2: 76.9%, p-value: 0.041] and the participant's education level [OR: 0.29, CI [0.09, 0.48], I2: 80.4%, p-value: 0.006]. Conclusion: This review found that 56% of Ethiopian women were satisfied with their abortion care. Since this requires a boost to the quality of abortion care in the health facility, understanding women's expectations and perceptions, training of health care providers, and strict monitoring of the quality of abortion care services by stakeholders like the Ethiopian government, non-governmental organizations, and high-level management of the health facility would help to improve the level of women's satisfaction with abortion care. Those factors, namely, the type of method to use for the patient and women's educational level, should be changed through improving awareness among the patients about what procedure to conduct and the health education provided to women about abortion care.

ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes associated with the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics for the treatment of chronic constipation in adults.MethodsWe searched eight electronic databases from database inception to July 11, 2023, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that report efficacy and safety for the treatment of chronic constipation. The risk of bias in the included RCTs was evaluated according to the Cochrane tool, and the certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis framework. The analysis was conducted using R version 4.3.0.ResultsOut of the 37 RCTs, a total of 21 different types of interventions were reported, involving 3,903 patients. This NMA demonstrated that both prebiotics and synbiotics resulted in an increase in frequency of stool movements per week. Compared to placebo, lactulose (Mean difference [MD] = 3.39, 95% Confdence interval [CI] [1.13, 5.65], moderate certainty), mix2 (consisting of Lactulose and Bacillus coagulans) (MD = 3.63, 95% CI [1.37, 5.89], moderate certainty), mix6 (consisting of Lactulose and Bifidobacterium coagulans) (MD = 4.30, 95% CI [1.04, 7.54], low certainty), and mix7 (consisting of Lactulose, Bifidobacterium subtilis, and Enterococcus faecium) (MD = 4.58, 95% CI [1.35, 7.78], moderate certainty) exhibited a significant effect. Notably, mix7 demonstrated the highest probability of being the most effective intervention (94.8%). Furthermore, when compared to L. plantarum, four probiotics and two synbiotics showed significant advantages in the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) score. L. reuteri (MD = -13.74, 95% CI [-22.20, -4.66], very low certainty) exhibited a significant effect in improving the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QoL) score. In terms of safety, there were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups in all adverse event analyses.ConclusionsModerate to very low evidence supports the use of lactulose and synbiotics to increase the number of weekly stool movements in patients, particularly highlighting the significant impact of synbiotics in increasing the number of weekly stool movements in patients with constipation. The use of L. paracasei showed improvements in PAC-SYM scores, while L. reuteri demonstrated enhancements in PAC-QoL scores.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Lupus Nephritis (LN) is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the treatment of lupus nephritis using traditional Chinese medicine remains controversial. Aim of the study To assess the efficacy and safety of Shenqi Dihuang decoction in the treatment of LN and review the clinical guidelines. Materials and methods Six databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, PubMed, China Biology Medicine, the Cochrane Library, and Embase) were searched from their inception to September 10, 2022, for randomized controlled trials on the treatment of lupus nephritis using Shenqi Dihuang decoction. We conducted a meta-analysis of random effects using Review Manager 5.4 and assessed the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Results A total of 15,790 citations were identified, from which 14 eligible randomized controlled trials that enrolled 1002 participants were selected for this systematic review. Low-to-moderate certainty of evidence indicated that when compared with Western medicine, Shenqi Dihuang decoction combined with Western medicine was associated with favorable effects on clinical efficacy (risk ratio (RR) = 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.37), vascular endothelial growth factor (mean difference (MD) = -30.90, 95% CI: -40.18 to -21.63), serum level (MD = -4.81 mu mol L-1, 95% CI: -17.14 to 7.53), complement C3 (MD = -0.14 g L-1, 95% CI: -0.23 to -0.04), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (MD = -11.87 mm h(-1), 95% CI: -22.01 to -1.73), and SLE disease activity score (MD = -3.38, 95% CI: -4.15 to -2.61), and exhibited a lower risk of infection (RR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.05-0.90), gastrointestinal reaction (RR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.17-1.28), and insomnia (RR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.92). Conclusions This systematic review provides a potential reference for understanding the efficacy and safety of Shenqi Dihuang decoction combined with Western medicine for treating patients with lupus nephritis. However, owing to the limited quality of the studies included in this review, lack of mycophenolate mofetil control, and high heterogeneity among the included studies, the current findings should be interpreted with caution. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of Shenqi Dihuang decoction in patients with PN still require further verification through future high-quality clinical studies.

The effect of various exercise modalities on people with sleep disorders remains unclear. This network meta analysis aims to explore the effects of various exercise modalities in improving sleep quality in people with sleep disorders. Four electronic databases were searched from inception to April 8, 2023. We conducted pairwise meta-analyses and frequentist network meta-analyses with random effects models. A total of 17 randomized controlled trials enrolled 1090 participants were included. Compared with passive control, with moderate-to-low certainty of evidence, mind-body exercise combined with treatment as usual [standard mean difference (SMD) =-2.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-3.29,-1,24)], moderate aerobic exercise combined with light strength exercise [SMD =-1.26, 95% CI (-2.22,-0.31)], mind-body exercise [SMD =-0.81, 95% CI (-1.37,-0.25)] and moderate aerobic exercise [SMD =-0.75, 95% CI (-1.38,-0.13)] were more effect in improving sleep disorders. Various exercise modalities have favorable effects on sleep quality for people with sleep disorders compared with passive control. However, due to the low quality of evidence, well-designed trials should be conducted to elucidate these promising findings in the future.

Background:Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin condition with multiple topical treatment options, but uncertain comparative effects. Objective:We sought to systematically synthesize the benefits and harms of AD prescription topical treatments. Methods:For the 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters AD guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, LILACS, ICTRP, and GREAT databases to September 5, 2022, for randomized trials addressing AD topical treatments. Paired reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Random-effects network meta-analyses addressed AD severity, itch, sleep, AD-related quality of life, flares, and harms. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach informed certainty of evidence ratings. We classified topical corticosteroids (TCS) using 7 groups-group 1 being most potent. This review is registered in the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/q5m6s). Results:The 219 included trials (43,123 patients) evaluated 68 interventions. With high-certainty evidence, pimecrolimus improved 6 of 7 outcomes-among the best for 2; high-dose tacrolimus (0.1%) improved 5-among the best for 2; low-dose tacrolimus (0.03%) improved 5-among the best for 1. With moderate- to high-certainty evidence, group 5 TCS improved 6-among the best for 3; group 4 TCS and delgocitinib improved 4-among the best for 2; ruxolitinib improved 4-among the best for 1; group 1 TCS improved 3-among the best for 2. These interventions did not increase harm. Crisaborole and difamilast were intermediately effective, but with uncertain harm. Topical antibiotics alone or in combination may be among the least effective. To maintain AD control, group 5 TCS were among the most effective, followed by tacrolimus and pimecrolimus. Conclusions:For individuals with AD, pimecrolimus, tacrolimus, and moderate-potency TCS are among the most effective in improving and maintaining multiple AD outcomes. Topical antibiotics may be among the least effective.

Aim: This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of in-person and digital mental health interventions in addressing Postpartum Depression. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, the protocol for this meta-analysis was registered at the Open Science Framework (Retrieved from osf.io/wy3s4). This meta analysis included Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) conducted between 2013 and 2023. A comprehensive literature search identified 35 eligible RCTs from various electronic databases. Inclusion criteria focused on pregnant women over 18 years old, encompassing antenatal depression and up to two years postpartum. Diagnostic interviews or Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used to establish PPD. Digital interventions included telephonic, app-based, or internet-based approaches, while in-person interventions involved face-to-face sessions. Results: The meta-analysis revealed a moderate overall effect size of -0.69, indicating that psychological interventions are effective for PPD. Digital interventions (g = -0.86) exhibited a higher mean effect size than in-person interventions (g = -0.55). Both types of interventions displayed substantial heterogeneity (digital: I2 = 99%, in-person: I2 = 92%), suggesting variability in intervention content, delivery methods, and participant characteristics. Conclusion: Digital mental health interventions show promise in addressing PPD symptoms, with a potentially greater effect size compared to in-person interventions. However, the high heterogeneity observed in both modalities underscores the need for further research to identify key drivers of success and tailor interventions to diverse populations. Additionally, the choice between digital and in-person interventions should consider individual needs and preferences. Ongoing research should further investigate and optimise intervention modalities to better serve pregnant women at risk of PPD.

Background: A variety of nonpharmacological interventions that improve the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer have been difficult for medical staff to select through randomized controlled trials or traditional meta-analyses. Thus, a network meta-analysis is necessary. Objective: This study used network meta-analysis to analyze the effect of 13 different nonpharmacological interventions on improving the living quality of patients with advanced cancer. Methods: Five English databases were searched up to January 2019. The search strategy only included terms relating to or describing the intervention. Results: The study included 13 different nonpharmacological interventions. The overall efficacy was summarized through a holistic study of quality of life. The study found that the combined effect sizes of 13 nonpharmacological interventions crossed the invalid line (weighted mean difference, -13 [95% confidence interval, -33 to 8.5] to 1.7 [95% confidence interval, -18 to 22]), indicating that none of the intervention was significantly different from each other. By evaluating the heterogeneity of this outcome, no significant evidence of heterogeneity ( P > .05) was observed. Probability ranking according to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve showed that there was a great possibility for the CanWalk intervention and structured multidisciplinary intervention to improve outcomes for cancer patients. Conclusions: Thirteen nonpharmacological interventions did not significantly impact quality of life. Regarding the probability rank, CanWalk intervention may be the most promising way that advanced cancer patients can help themselves to a better life. Because of the limitations of the current studies, the conclusion needs further evidence. Implications for practice: Nurses should consider recommending moderate physical activity for patients with advanced cancer.

BACKGROUND: Group trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) is widely used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. However, the available evidence remains unclear. METHOD: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ProQuest Dissertations, LILACS, and international trial registers were searched from database inception to April 30, 2022. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared TF-CBT with any control condition for treating children and adolescents with PTSD. Analyses were performed using Review Manager version 5.3 and Stata 16.0. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020206096). RESULTS: Eleven RCTs involving 1942 patients were included. Group TF-CBT was significantly more effective than other treatments at post-treatment (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.65 to -0.22), follow-up (SMD: -0.33, 95% CI: -0.52 to -0.13), and in relieving depressive symptoms (SMD: -0.29, 95% CI: -0.49 to -0.09), but not in terms of acceptability. Subgroup analyses showed that group TF-CBT was superior to other treatments in studies including children with post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) (SMD: -0.54, 95% CI: -0.79 to -0.28) and psychiatric comorbidities (SMD: -0.48, 95% CI: -0.72 to -0.23). LIMITATIONS: The small sample sizes of identified studies limited some findings. CONCLUSION: When considering effectiveness at post-treatment and follow-up or the reduction of depressive symptoms, group TF-CBT could be a good choice for children and adolescents with PTSD. Among these patients, those with PTSS or psychiatric comorbidities may benefit the most.

Introduction: Depression and anxiety are significant contributors to maternal perinatal morbidity and a range of negative child outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review and assess the diagnostic test accuracy of selected screening tools (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS], EPDS-3A, Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]-, PHQ-2, Matthey Generic Mood Question [MGMQ], Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7], GAD-2, and the Whooley questions) used to identify women with antenatal depression or anxiety in Western countries. Material and methods: On January 16, 2023, we searched 10 databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, CRD Database, Embase, Epistemonikos, International HTA Database, KSR Evidence, Ovid MEDLINE, PROSPERO and PsycINFO); the references of included studies were also screened. We included studies of any design that compared case-identification with a relevant screening tool to the outcome of a diagnostic interview based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth or fifth edition (DSM-IV or DSM-5), or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10). Diagnoses of interest were major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders. Two authors independently screened abstracts and full-texts for relevance and evaluated the risk of bias using QUADAS-2. Data extraction was performed by one person and checked by another team member for accuracy. For synthesis, a bivariate model was used. The certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Registration: PROSPERO CRD42021236333. Results: We screened 8276 records for eligibility and included 16 original articles reporting on diagnostic test accuracy: 12 for the EPDS, one article each for the GAD-2, MGMQ, PHQ-9, PHQ-2, and Whooley questions, and no articles for the EPDS-3A or GAD-7. Most of the studies had moderate to high risk of bias. Ten of the EPDS articles provided data for synthesis at cutoffs ≥10 to ≥14 for diagnosing major depressive disorder. Cutoff ≥10 gave the optimal combined sensitivity (0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75-0.90) and specificity (0.87, 95% CI: 0.79-0.92). Conclusions: Findings from the meta-analysis suggest that the EPDS alone is not perfectly suitable for detection of major depressive disorder during pregnancy. Few studies have evaluated the other instruments, therefore, their usefulness for identification of women with depression and anxiety during pregnancy remains very uncertain. At present, case-identification with any tool may best serve as a complement to a broader dialogue between healthcare professionals and their patients.

Background: People with suspected prostate cancer are usually offered either a local anaesthetic transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy or a general anaesthetic transperineal prostate biopsy. Transperineal prostate biopsy is often carried out under general anaesthetic due to pain caused by the procedure. However, recent studies suggest that performing local anaesthetic transperineal prostate biopsy may better identify cancer in particular regions of the prostate and reduce infection rates, while being carried out in an outpatient setting. Devices to assist with freehand methods of local anaesthetic transperineal prostate may also help practitioners performing prostate biopsies. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of local anaesthetic transperineal prostate compared to local anaesthetic transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate and general anaesthetic transperineal prostate biopsy for people with suspected prostate cancer, and local anaesthetic transperineal prostate with specific freehand devices in comparison with local anaesthetic transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate and transperineal prostate biopsy conducted with a grid and stepping device conducted under local or general anaesthetic. Data sources and methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies comparing the diagnostic yield and clinical effectiveness of different methods for performing prostate biopsies. We used pairwise and network meta-analyses to pool evidence on cancer detection rates and structured narrative synthesis for other outcomes. For the economic evaluation, we reviewed published and submitted evidence and developed a model to assess the cost-effectiveness of the different biopsy methods. Results: We included 19 comparative studies (6 randomised controlled trials and 13 observational comparative studies) and 4 single-arm studies of freehand devices. There were no statistically significant differences in cancer detection rates for local anaesthetic transperineal prostate (any method) compared to local anaesthetic transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate (relative risk 1.00, 95% confidence interval 0.85 to 1.18) (n = 5 randomised controlled trials), as was the case for local anaesthetic transperineal prostate with a freehand device compared to local anaesthetic transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate (relative risk 1.40, 95% confidence interval 0.96 to 2.04) (n = 1 randomised controlled trial). Results of meta-analyses of observational studies were similar. The economic analysis indicated that local anaesthetic transperineal prostate is likely to be cost-effective compared with local anaesthetic transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate (incremental cost below £20,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained) and less costly and no less effective than general anaesthetic transperineal prostate. local anaesthetic transperineal prostate with a freehand device is likely to be the most cost-effective strategy: incremental cost versus local anaesthetic transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate of £743 per quality-adjusted life-year for people with magnetic resonance imaging Likert score of 3 or more at first biopsy. Limitations: There is limited evidence for efficacy in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer. There is comparative evidence for the PrecisionPoint™ Transperineal Access System (BXTAccelyon Ltd, Burnham, UK) but limited or no evidence for the other freehand devices. Evidence for other outcomes is sparse. The cost-effectiveness results are sensitive to uncertainty over cancer detection rates, complication rates and the numbers of core samples taken with the different biopsy methods and the costs of processing them. Conclusions: Transperineal prostate biopsy under local anaesthetic is equally efficient at detecting prostate cancer as transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy under local anaesthetic but it may be better with a freehand device. local anaesthetic transperineal prostate is associated with urinary retention type complications, whereas local anaesthetic transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate has a higher infection rate. local anaesthetic transperineal prostate biopsy with a freehand device appears to meet conventional levels of costeffectiveness compared with local anaesthetic transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate. Study registration: This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42021266443. Funding: This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Evidence Synthesis programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR134220) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment Vol. 28, No. 60. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Introduction: Health workers in rural and remote areas shoulder heavy responsibilities for rural residents. This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of continuing education programs for health workers in rural and remote areas.Methods: Eight electronic databases were searched on 28 November 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi -experimental studies evaluating the effectiveness of continuing education for health workers in rural and remote areas were included. The quality of the studies was assessed using the risk of bias tool provided by Effective Practice and Organization of Care. A meta-analysis was performed for eligible trials, and the other findings were presented as a narrative review because of inconsistent study types and outcomes. Results: A total of 17 studies were included, four of which were RCTs. The results of the meta-analysis showed that compared to no intervention, continuing education programs significantly improved the knowledge awareness rate of participants (odds ratio=4.09, 95% confidence interval 2.51-6.67, p<0.05). Qualitative analysis showed that 12 studies reported on the level of knowledge of participants, with all showing positive changes. Eight studies measured the performance of health workers in rural and remote areas, with 87.50% (n=7) finding improved performance. Two studies reported on the impact of continuing education programs for health workers in rural and remote areas on patient health, with only one showing a positive change. One study from India measured the health of communities, which showed a positive change.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that continuing education programs are an effective way to address the lack of knowledge and skills among health workers in rural and remote areas. Few studies have examined the effectiveness of education programs for health workers in rural and remote areas in improving patient health outcomes. It is not yet known whether the delivery of continuing education programs to health workers in rural areas has a positive impact on patient and community health. Future attention should continue to be paid to the impact on these outcomes.

ObjectiveTo investigate the most effective and best-tolerated drugs for treating diseased smokers.MethodsEight databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving different pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation in disease patients (January 2023). Network meta-analysis was performed using STATA 15.1 software. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool assessed the risk of bias, and confidence in evidence was assessed using CINeMA.ResultsA total of 60 RCTs involving 13,009 patients of 12 disease categories were included. All trials reported 13 interventions, resulting in 78 comparisons. Network meta-analysis showed that varenicline (OR = 2.30, 95% CI (1.77, 3.00)) and bupropion (OR = 1.65, 95% CI (1.29, 2.11)) showed favorable abstinence effects compared to placebo in the cardiovascular disease population. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) had better withdrawal advantages than placebo (OR = 11.18, 95% CI (2.25, 55.54)) in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) population. Some combination treatments showed better results than monotherapy, such as bupropion + NRT was superior to bupropion (OR = 8.45, 95% CI (1.84, 38.89)) and NRT (OR = 4.98, 95% CI (1.25, 19.78)) in mental illness population. The final surface under the cumulative ranking curve indicated that bupropion + NRT achieved the best smoking cessation effect. Overall confidence in the evidence was low. In a comparison of drugs, the results showed that bupropion + NRT had the best safety.ConclusionsMost interventions show the benefit of quitting smoking compared with placebo, including monotherapy and combination therapy. Moreover, varenicline or bupropion combined with NRT is superior to some monotherapies.

Background: The clinical efficacy and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment for COVID-19 remain controversial. This study aimed to map the current status and gaps of available evidence, and conduct a meta-analysis to further investigate the benefit of IVIg in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Electronic databases were searched for systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SR/MAs), primary studies with control groups, reporting on the use of IVIg in patients with COVID-19. A random-effects meta-analysis with subgroup analyses regarding study design and patient disease severity was performed. Our outcomes of interest determined by the evidence mapping, were mortality, length of hospitalization (days), length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (days), number of patients requiring mechanical ventilation, and adverse events. Results: We included 34 studies (12 SR/MAs, 8 prospective and 14 retrospective studies). A total of 5571 hospitalized patients were involved in 22 primary studies. Random-effects meta-analyses of very low to moderate evidence showed that there was little or no difference between IVIg and standard care or placebo in reducing mortality (relative risk [RR] 0.91; 95% CI 0.78-1.06; risk difference [RD] 3.3% fewer), length of hospital (mean difference [MD] 0.37; 95% CI - 2.56, 3.31) and ICU (MD 0.36; 95% CI - 0.81, 1.53) stays, mechanical ventilation use (RR 0.92; 95% CI 0.68-1.24; RD 2.8% fewer), and adverse events (RR 0.98; 95% CI 0.84-1.14; RD 0.5% fewer) of patients with COVID-19. Sensitivity analysis using a fixed-effects model indicated that IVIg may reduce mortality (RR 0.76; 95% CI 0.60-0.97), and increase length of hospital stay (MD 0.68; 95% CI 0.09-1.28). Conclusion: Very low to moderate certainty of evidence indicated IVIg may not improve the clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Given the discrepancy between the random- and fixed-effects model results, further large-scale and well-designed RCTs are warranted

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most burdensome chronic diseases in the world. Health utility values are an important tool for quantifying this disease burden and conducting cost-utility analyses. This review aimed to derive a reference set of health utility values for children and adolescents with T1DM.Methods: We searched MEDLINE and Embase from inception to March 2023 for health utility values of T1DM children and adolescents (aged <= 18 years) measured using direct and indirect preference elicitation approaches. Utility estimates were pooled by meta-analyses with subgroup analyses to evaluate differences by populations and elicitation approaches.Results: Six studies involving 1276 participants were included in this study. Meta-analysis showed the overall utility value of children and adolescents with T1DM was 0.91 (95% CI 0.89-0.93). The utility value of T1DM children and adolescents with complications was 0.90 (95% CI 0.88-0.92), which was lower than those without complications (0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.97). The utility value of children (aged <13 years) was higher than adolescents (aged 13-18 years) (0.90 vs. 0.85). The utility value measured by the EQ-5D-3L (0.91) was higher than the HUI3 (0.89), the SF-6Dv1 (0.83), and the time trade-off (0.81). The parent proxy-reported was similar to the patient self-reported (0.91 vs. 0.91).Conclusions: This study developed a reference set of pooled utility estimates for children and adolescents with T1DM, which is helpful for understanding the overall health status of T1DM and conducting economic evaluations. Further studies are needed to explore the utilities of T1DM with different types of complications.