Cochrane

Review question We reviewed the evidence about the effect of alpha2-adrenergic agonists (clonidine, lofexidine, guanfacine, and tizanidine) in managing withdrawal in people who are dependent on opioid drugs (for example heroin, methadone). Background Managed withdrawal, or detoxification, is a required first step for longer-term treatments of opioid ...

Review question What are the effects of iron, taken orally for at least five days a week, on health outcomes in menstruating women (compared with not giving iron)? Background Iron deficiency (a shortage of iron stored in the body) and anaemia (low levels of haemoglobin - healthy red blood cells - in the blood) are common problems globally, especially ...

What is the issue? Breastfeeding is expected to provide for the infant's needs in the early months of life. However, if the mother is undernourished herself, the infant may not receive all the nutrients they need. Vitamin A is important for immunity and helping the infant stay healthy, so if the mother does not have enough vitamin A intake in her ...

Why is the amount of time spent sitting at work important? Physical inactivity at work, particularly sitting has increased in recent years. Long periods of sitting increase the risk for obesity, heart disease, and overall mortality. It is unclear whether interventions that aim to reduce sitting at workplaces are effective at reducing the amount of ...

Background The World Health Organization defines chronic conditions as "health problems that require ongoing management over a period of years or decades". Many people with a chronic health problem or condition, have more than one chronic health condition, which is referred to as multimorbidity. This generally means that people could have any possible ...

Review question We reviewed the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions for preventing delirium in hospitalised patients, not including those on intensive care units (ICU) (specialised wards for the care of critically ill patients). Background Delirium is a common and serious illness for people admitted to hospital. It can be distressing ...

Background Endovascular procedures require access to the inside of an artery. A small hole is made in the artery at the groin, and a catheter is guided along to the site of interest. Once the procedure is complete, the hole in the artery must be closed and the bleeding stopped (haemostasis). Traditionally, the main method of closing the artery is ...

Review question There is a vaccine to prevent shingles. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine to prevent shingles in healthy older people. Background The varicella zoster virus causes chickenpox and can remain dormant inside nerve cells. After many years, it can reactivate, travel through the nerve to the skin and ...

Introduction Most trials fail to recruit the number of participants they need within the time they had planned to conduct the study. Recruiting potential participants to research studies involves three stages: identifying, approaching and obtaining the consent of potential participants to join a study. Researchers often rely on healthcare staff, such ...

Review question Is intravenous, (directly into a vein), lidocaine injection effective in reducing the pain caused by the injection of propofol, given to induce anaesthesia in adults undergoing general anaesthesia? Background Propofol is an anaesthetic drug (an induction agent) which is given to induce and maintain anaesthesia in adults undergoing ...