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Volume 2 >
In the News
Co-publishing agreement with CMAJ
Canadian physicians will soon have easier access to relevant
Cochrane reviews. The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ)
and the publishers of The Cochrane Library, John Wiley
& Sons, have agreed to the simultaneous release of selected
Cochrane reviews. In a more readable format, CMAJ will publish a
3000 word version of selected Cochrane systematic reviews on the
publication date of the full review in The Cochrane
Library.
Cochrane Library Available to All Nova
Scotians
All residents of Nova Scotia can now access The Cochrane
Library for free through public libraries and remotely through
their local library web site with a valid library card. Although
health practitioners in Nova Scotia have had access to The
Cochrane Library since 2005, it was through a cumbersome
password system. Funding was provided by the members of the Atlantic
Health Knowledge Partnership who worked with the Nova Scotia
Provincial Library to realize this access.
https://sapps.ednet.ns.ca/cochranelogin/index2.html
For
more information contact Patrick Ellis at pellis doesnotexist@cochrane.org dal.ca
New RSS Feed – Cochrane Connecting Today…
Keep Cochrane front and centre by subscribing to Cochrane
Connecting Today, a new RSS feed from the Canadian Cochrane Centre!
Receive highlights of Cochrane reviews related to current events and
health promotion days. View the news and sign up on our What's
New page at http://www.ccnc.cochrane.org/en/news.html.
Cochrane for Practice
The Health of Older People (HOP) Project
Current best evidence from Cochrane systematic reviews which
relate to the health care of older people is now available as a
‘one stop shop’ thanks to the work of a group of researchers in
Glasgow. A searchable database provides a concise account of the
evidence on common health problems (i.e., continence, falls etc.)
and different models of service organization (i.e., acute care,
long-term) related to older people.
Visit www.effectiveolderpeoplecare.org
StrokEngine
StrokEngine is a free, evidence-based website about stroke
rehabilitation interventions with information tailored for stroke
patients and loved ones, clinicians, and policy makers. Established
by McGill University, researchers gather evidence from multiple
sources, including Cochrane reviews, and update it every six months.
www.medicine.mcgill.ca/strokengine
An e-learning module is also available for clinicians at http://elearning.strokengine.org/.
P.E.A.R.L.S. for Practitioners
Designed for practitioners, a Cochrane P.E.A.R.L.S. (practical
evidence about real life situations) is a one page summary of a
Cochrane Review relevant to primary care. The Cochrane Primary Care
Field sends out two P.E.A.R.L.S. every two weeks at no charge. To
subscribe to P.E.A.R.L.S, email Bruce Arroll at b.arroll doesnotexist@cochrane.org auckland.ac.nz.
Cochrane Library Spotlight - Issue 3
2007
Child Health
Interventions
for the interruption or reduction of the spread of respiratory
viruses
Mother’s advice about washing your hands is
still a tried and true practice. A Cochrane review has found that
good hand-washing with normal soap and water are effective ways to
contain respiratory virus infections in young children. Although
respiratory viruses usually only cause minor disease such as colds,
they can cause epidemics.
Public Health
Abstinence-only
programs for HIV infection prevention in high-income
countries
Programs promoting abstinence as the only
means of preventing sexual acquisition of HIV are not effective in
decreasing or worsening HIV risk among American youth. These
programs consistently had no effect on behaviours such as condom use
that would prevent the spread of HIV.
Dietary
advice for reducing cardiovascular risk
How
important is diet in reducing the chances of getting cardiovascular
disease and cancer? Could a simple change in eating habits affect a
person’s risk? Evidence shows that dietary advice from a health
practitioner can moderately reduce salt and fat intake and increase
the intake of fruit, vegetables, and fibre.
Workplace Health
Surgical
treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome
Several
surgical treatment options are available for the common disorder,
carpal tunnel syndrome. Studies reviewed show that none of the
alternatives to the standard procedure, called open carpal tunnel
release, seem to relieve symptoms in the short- or long-term. People
who have a special type of operation (endoscopic carpal tunnel
release) may return to their work or daily activities about one week
earlier.
Senior’s Health
Electromechanical-assisted
training for walking after stroke
Stroke patients
are often required to use a walking aid during rehabilitation.
Electromechanical and robotic-assisted gait training devices are
sometimes used to help improve a patient’s walk. This review found
that using these devices together with physiotherapy increases the
chances of stroke patients being able to walk independently in
comparison to using no device at all.
Exercise
for improving balance in older people
The risk of
falling is great among older adults and can often reduce
independence or lead to illness or early death. The results of this
review identify that exercises such as those that involve walking,
balance, co-ordination and muscle strength have the most impact on a
senior’s balance; however it is unknown how long these effects
last.
Women’s Health
Chinese
herbal medicine for primary dysmenorrhoea
There is
promising evidence that Chinese herbal medicine may help relieve
painful menstrual cramps. Compared to conventional medicine such as
NSAIDs and the oral contraceptive pill, acupuncture and heat
compression, Chinese herbal medicine reduced pain, overall symptoms
and the use of additional medication.
Amniotomy
for shortening spontaneous labour
Don’t ‘break the
waters’ during labour without good clinical reason, concludes this
Cochrane review. Amniotomy, also known as breaking the waters, did
not shorten the first stage of labour or affect a woman’s
satisfaction with her childbirth experience and it may increase the
chance of delivery by cesarean section.
Enemas
during labour
The evidence does not support
routinely using enemas during labour. Giving women enemas during
labour does not shorten labour or decrease the risk of infection to
mother or baby. Consequently this practice should be discouraged
What’s Ahead
The Canadian Cochrane Symposium
2008
Big Sky: New Horizons for Systematic
Reviews in Health Care
6-7 March 2008
Sutton Place Hotel, Edmonton
Alberta
Abstract deadline: 30 November 2007
Register for
pre-symposium workshops: systematic review author training, RevMan 5
training. Introductory and critical appraisal workshops for
consumers will be offered during the Symposium.
Contact: Krystal
Harvey (krystal.harvey doesnotexist@cochrane.org ualberta.ca)
www.ccs2008.ca
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