Scandinavian journal of primary health care
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Mar 2022
Meta AnalysisInterventions regarding physicians' sickness certification practice - a systematic literature review with meta-analyses.
A variety of interventions aiming to influence physicians' sickness certification practice have been conducted, most are, however, not evaluated scientifically. The aim of this systematic literature review was to obtain updated knowledge about interventions regarding physicians' sickness certification practice and to summarize their possible effects, in terms of sickness absence (SA) or return to work (RTW) among patients. ⋯ The individual studies showed that physicians' sickness certification practice might be influenced by interventions in both the intended and non-intended direction, however, no statistically significant effect was indicated by the meta-analysis. The included studies varied considerably concerning intervention content and effect measures.KEY POINTSThe knowledge is very limited regarding the content of interventions directed to physician's sickness certification practiceThe identified interventions included some type of training of physicians, and some of them also included IT-support for physiciansThere was a great heterogeneity among the interventions concerning effect measures used regarding return to work among patientsThe individual studies showed that physicians' sickness certification practice might be influenced by interventions in both intended and non-intended directions, however, the overall meta-analysis did not indicate an effect.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jun 2020
Meta AnalysisGroup C beta hemolytic Streptococci as a potential pathogen in patients presenting with an uncomplicated acute sore throat - a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
Objective: The pathogenicity of beta-hemolytic Streptococcus group C (GCS) in patients attending for an uncomplicated acute sore throat is unknown and it was the objective to clarify this. Design: Systematic literature review with meta-analysis. Setting Medline and Scopus were searched from inception to February 2019, with searches of reference lists, Subjects case-control studies stating prevalence of GCS in patients as well as healthy controls presented for children and adults separately. ⋯ This systematic literature review concludes it is unlikely that GCS is involved in the uncomplicated sore throat in otherwise healthy children. This meta-analysis found a moderate link between GCS and the uncomplicated sore throat in adults. The link in adults between GCS and the sore throat is much weaker than the corresponding link for group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Mar 2018
Meta AnalysisAcupuncture treatments for infantile colic: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis of blinding test validated randomised controlled trials.
Needle acupuncture in small children has gained some acceptance in Western medicine. It is controversial, as infants and toddlers are unable to consent to treatment. We aimed to assess its efficacy for treating infantile colic. ⋯ Percutaneous needle acupuncture treatments should not be recommended for infantile colic on a general basis. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO 2015:CRD42015023253 Key points The role of acupuncture in the treatment of infantile colic is controversial. Available trials are small and present conflicting results. There were no clinically important differences between infants receiving acupuncture and no acupuncture control in this IPD meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. The data indicate that acupuncture induces some treatment pain in many of the children. The study results indicate that percutaneous needle acupuncture should not be recommended for treatment of infantile colic on a general basis.