Lay Advisor Interventions in Rural Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Context: Age-adjusted death rates for heart disease are higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Lay advisors could potentially facilitate improvement in cardiovascular health outcomes. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to estimate lay advisor intervention effects on cardiovascular health metrics in rural populations.

Effect of peer support interventions on cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults with diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Peer support by persons affected with diabetes improves peer supporter's diabetes self-management skills. Peer support interventions by individuals who have diabetes or are affected by diabetes have been shown to improve glycemic control; however, its effects on other cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults with diabetes are unknown. We aimed to estimate the effect of peer support interventions on cardiovascular disease risk factors other than glycemic control in adults with diabetes.

Peer Support Interventions for Adults With Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Hemoglobin A Outcomes.

Purpose: Peer support intervention trials have shown varying effects on glycemic control. We aimed to estimate the effect of peer support interventions delivered by people affected by diabetes (those with the disease or a caregiver) on hemoglobin A (HbA) levels in adults.

Methods: We searched multiple databases from 1960 to November 2015, including Ovid MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Scopus.

Information needs of informal caregivers of older adults with chronic health conditions.

Objective: To systematically examine current evidence pertaining to information needs of informal caregivers of older adults with chronic health conditions.

Methods: Structured search of MEDLINE, MEDLINE IN-PROCESS, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases to identify studies of caregiver information needs, followed by data extraction and syntheses.

Results: The 62 articles that met the stated inclusion criteria highlighted extensive needs among informal caregivers for practical, accessible, timely information.

How much effort is needed to keep up with the literature relevant for primary care?

Objectives: Medicine must keep current with the research literature, and keeping current requires continuously updating the clinical knowledge base (i.e., references that provide answers to clinical questions).