Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2005
Review Meta AnalysisPsychological interventions for children with asthma.
Asthma is a chronic disease of inflammation and smooth muscle dysfunction, including bronchoconstriction. These symptoms are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow obstruction that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment. Psychological factors may influence the symptoms and management of asthma in children in many ways, for example, evidence suggests that emotional stress can either precipitate or exacerbate both acute and chronic asthma. ⋯ This review was unable to draw firm conclusions for the role of psychological interventions for children with asthma. This review demonstrates the absence of an adequate evidence base and highlights the need for well-conducted and reported randomised trials in this area.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2005
Review Meta AnalysisInteractive Health Communication Applications for people with chronic disease.
Interactive Health Communication Applications (IHCAs) are computer-based, usually web-based, information packages for patients that combine health information with at least one of social support, decision support, or behaviour change support. These are innovations in health care and their effects on health are uncertain. ⋯ IHCAs appear to have largely positive effects on users, in that users tend to become more knowledgeable, feel better socially supported, and may have improved behavioural and clinical outcomes compared to non-users. There is a need for more high quality studies with large sample sizes to confirm these preliminary findings, to determine the best type and best way to deliver IHCAs, and to establish how IHCAs have their effects for different groups of people with chronic illness.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2005
Review Meta AnalysisHome visits during pregnancy and after birth for women with an alcohol or drug problem.
One potential method of improving outcome for pregnant or postpartum women with a drug or alcohol problem is with home visits. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of home visits for women with a drug or alcohol problem. Further large, high-quality trials are needed, and women's views on home visiting need to be assessed.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2005
Review Meta AnalysisArtesunate plus mefloquine versus mefloquine for treating uncomplicated malaria.
Multiple-drug-resistant malaria is widespread, and in South-East Asia resistance is high against nearly all single therapy antimalarial drugs. Here, and in other areas with low malaria transmission, the combination of artesunate and mefloquine may provide an effective alternative. ⋯ Artesunate plus mefloquine performs better than mefloquine alone for treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria in areas with low malaria transmission. A total dose of 25 mg/kg mefloquine and at least 10 mg artesunate leads to higher cure rates. Better reporting of methods and standardisation of outcomes would help the interpretation of future trials.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2005
Review Meta AnalysisChloroquine or amodiaquine combined with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for treating uncomplicated malaria.
Chloroquine (CQ), amodiaquine (AQ), and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) are inexpensive drugs, but treatment failure is a problem. Combination therapy may reduce treatment failure. CQ or AQ plus SP are affordable options of combination treatment, but there is debate about their effectiveness. ⋯ The evidence base is not strong enough to support firm conclusions. The available evidence suggests that AQ plus SP can achieve less treatment failure than SP, but this might depend on existing levels of parasite resistance to the individual drugs.