Ethnicity and deprivation negatively impact the access to disease-modifying therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a retrospective, single-centre study.

Background: A growing body of evidence suggests inequitable access to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) in publicly funded healthcare systems. This retrospective study examined the impact of ethnicity and deprivation on the access to DMTs.

Methods: All adults diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS between 2010 and 2020 were included.

The impact of an ADHD co-morbidity on the diagnosis of FASD.

Objective: Many children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) also have co-morbid ADHD. The goal of this study was to examine the impact of having a co-morbid ADHD diagnosis on FASD diagnostic results. We compared children with FASD to those with FASD and co-morbid ADHD across the neurobehavioral domains recommended by the Canadian Guidelines in the diagnosis of FASD.

Development and evaluation of an instrument for the critical appraisal of randomized controlled trials of natural products.

Background: The efficacy of natural products (NPs) is being evaluated using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with increasing frequency, yet a search of the literature did not identify a widely accepted critical appraisal instrument developed specifically for use with NPs. The purpose of this project was to develop and evaluate a critical appraisal instrument that is sufficiently rigorous to be used in evaluating RCTs of conventional medicines, and also has a section specific for use with single entity NPs, including herbs and natural sourced chemicals.

Methods: Three phases of the project included: 1) using experts and a Delphi process to reach consensus on a list of items essential in describing the identity of an NP; 2) compiling a list of non-NP items important for evaluating the quality of an RCT using systematic review methodology to identify published instruments and then compiling item categories that were part of a validated instrument and/or had empirical evidence to support their inclusion and 3) conducting a field test to compare the new instrument to a published instrument for usefulness in evaluating the quality of 3 RCTs of a NP and in applying results to practice.

Evaluating the quality of randomized controlled trials that examine the efficacy of natural health products: a systematic review of critical appraisal instruments.

The purpose of this project was to conduct a systematic review to identify instruments designed to evaluate the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of natural health products (NHPs). Instruments were examined for inclusion of items assessing methods, identity and content of the NHP, generalizability of results and instructions for use. Online databases, websites, textbooks and reference lists were searched to identify instruments.