Feasibility of establishing a Canadian Obstetric Survey System (CanOSS) for severe maternal morbidity: a study protocol.

Introduction: Severe maternal morbidity (SMM)-an unexpected pregnancy-associated maternal outcome resulting in severe illness, prolonged hospitalisation or long-term disability-is recognised by many, as the preferred indicator of the quality of maternity care, especially in high-income countries. Obtaining comprehensive details on events and circumstances leading to SMM, obtained through maternity units, could complement data from large epidemiological studies and enable targeted interventions to improve maternal health. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of gathering such data from maternity units across Canadian provinces and territories, with the goal of establishing a national obstetric survey system for SMM in Canada.

Deficiencies in concussion education in Canadian medical schools.

Background: Recent reports raise concern that physician knowledge of the identification and management of concussion may be deficient. There is little information known about the adequacy of concussion education provided to physicians or medical students. The present study assesses the concussion curriculum offered at medical schools in Canada.

Randomized clinical trials in orthopaedic surgery: strategies to improve quantity and quality.

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) generally provide the highest quality and least biased evidence for treatment effectiveness. Relatively few high-quality RCTs have been published in the orthopaedic literature. Barriers to increasing the quantity of trials include the orthopaedic culture, patient preferences, and the availability of treatment outside trials.

Treatment for unicameral bone cysts in long bones: an evidence based review.

The purpose of this paper is to perform an evidence based review for treatment of unicameral bone cysts. A search of MEDLINE (1966 to 2009) was conducted and the studies were classified according to levels of evidence. This review includes only comparative Level I-III studies.

An evidence-based review of parental presence during anesthesia induction and parent/child anxiety.

Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based review was to examine the effect of parental presence during anesthesia induction on parents' and children's anxiety.

Source: MEDLINE (1950 to 2008) and EMBASE (1980 to 2008) were searched. Studies were restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative studies only (levels of evidence I-III).

The efficacy and risks of using povidone-iodine irrigation to prevent surgical site infection: an evidence-based review.

Introduction: Surgical site infection is a serious complication of surgery. This evidence-based review sought to determine the efficacy and risks of using povidone-iodine irrigation to prevent surgical site infection.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or comparative studies only (level of evidence I–III).

Motor impairment rehabilitation post acquired brain injury.

Objective: We sought to investigate the efficacy of treatment strategies used to manage motor impairments following acquired brain injury (ABI) in order to provide guidance for clinical practice based on the best available evidence.

Methods And Main Outcomes: A systematic review of the literature from 1980-2005 was conducted focusing on pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and exercise interventions available for motor impairments post ABI. The efficacy of a given intervention was classified as strong (supported by two or more randomized controlled trials (RCTs)), moderate (supported by a single RCT), or limited (supported by other types of studies in the absence of RCTs).

The efficacy of acquired brain injury rehabilitation.

Objective: The purpose of this review was to investigate the efficacy of rehabilitation interventions in acquired brain injury (ABI) rehabilitation to provide guidance for clinical practice based on the best available evidence.

Methods And Main Outcomes: A systematic review of the literature from 1980-2005 was conducted focusing on rehabilitation interventions for ABI. The efficacy of a given intervention was classified as strong (supported by at least two randomized controlled trials (RCTs)), moderate (supported by a single RCT), or limited (supported by other types of studies in the absence of RCTs).

A systematic review of the rehabilitation of moderate to severe acquired brain injuries.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the rehabilitation literature of moderate to severe acquired brain injuries (ABI) from traumatic and non-traumatic causes.

Methods: A review of the literature was conducted for studies looking at interventions in ABI rehabilitation. The methodological quality of each study was determined using the Downs and Black scale for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs as well as the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale for RCTs only.