Suitability Assessment of Printed Dietary Guidelines for Pregnant Women and Parents of Infants and Toddlers From 7 European Countries.

Objectives: To evaluate selected European printed dietary guidelines for pregnant women and parents of infants and toddlers using the suitability assessment of materials (SAM) method.

Methods: A descriptive study to determine the suitability of 14 printed dietary guidelines from 7 European countries based on deductive quantitative analyses.

Results: Materials varied greatly in format and content: 35.

Developing the HTA core model for the online environment.

Background: A framework for collaborative production and sharing of HTA information, the HTA Core Model, was originally developed within EUnetHTA in 2006-08. In this paper, we describe the further development of the Model to allow implementation and utilization of the Model online. The aim was to capture a generic HTA process that would allow effective use of the HTA Core Model and resulting HTA information while at the same time not interfering with HTA agencies' internal processes.

Completeness of reporting of setting and health worker cadre among trials on antenatal iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnancy: an assessment based on two Cochrane reviews.

Background: Poor reporting of medical trials has triggered the development of trial reporting standards within the scientific community. In addition to a description of the proposed intervention, adequate information about the trial setting and the group of health workers (cadre) delivering the intervention would allow a better understanding of the generalizability of the trial findings, facilitate replication of trial interventions and assist with assessment of trials for inclusion in systematic reviews. This study aims to determine the completeness of reporting for trial setting and cadre among trials included in two Cochrane reviews on iron and folic acid supplementation for women during pregnancy.

Barebacking among men who have sex with men recruited through a Swedish website: associations with sexual activities at last sexual encounter.

The research topic of barebacking emerged in the mid-1990s. Since then, a multitude of studies, largely from the United States, have produced invaluable knowledge of factors that help explain the behaviour among men who have sex with men (MSM), and that may contribute to HIV risk reduction programming and advice to counsellors working with barebackers. Given the scant empirical research about barebacking among European MSM, we conducted a survey among 3,634 MSM recruited through a web community in Nordic countries.

Interaction initiatives between regulatory, health technology assessment and coverage bodies, and industry.

There has been an increased focus on the relationship between health technology assessment (HTA) and regulatory assessments and how regulatory, HTA and coverage bodies, and industry can work better together to improve efficiency and alignment of processes. There is increasingly agreement across sectors that improved communication and coordination could contribute to facilitating timely patient access to effective, affordable treatments that offer value to the health system. Discussions on aspects of this relationship are being held in different forums and various forms of coordination and collaboration are being developed or piloted within several jurisdictions.

The effect of probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections.

As part of its efforts to disseminate the results of Cochrane reviews to a wider audience, the Cochrane Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Field develops Summary of Findings (SoF) tables and then uses those tables as a basis for its plain-language summaries. Each SoF table presents the most important outcomes for the review as well as the effect of the intervention and the quality of the evidence for each outcome. The process of developing the SoF table involves deciding which outcomes to present for which time points and evaluating the strength and quality of the evidence for the outcomes.

Cochrane summary of findings: horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency.

As part of its efforts to disseminate the results of Cochrane reviews to a wider audience, the Cochrane Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Field develops Summary of Findings (SoF) tables and then uses these tables as a basis for its Plain Language Summaries. In each SoF table, the most important outcomes of the review, the effect of the intervention on each outcome, and the quality of the evidence for each outcome are presented. The process of developing the SoF table involves deciding which outcomes to present for which time points and evaluating the strength and quality of the evidence for the outcomes.

Use of manual techniques for perineal support in Norwegian maternity departments.

Background: The use of supporting techniques to protect the perineum in the last phase of birth is controversial. The objective of this investigation was to gain more knowledge on the use of hand techniques for perineal support in Norwegian maternity wards.

Material And Method: A questionnaire investigation addressed to the leaders of all the country''s maternity wards.

A pragmatic randomised trial of stretching before and after physical activity to prevent injury and soreness.

Objective: To determine the effects of stretching before and after physical activity on risks of injury and soreness in a community population.

Design: Internet-based pragmatic randomised trial conducted between January 2008 and January 2009.

Setting: International.

Outcomes of patients who participate in randomized controlled trials compared to similar patients receiving similar interventions who do not participate.

Background: Some people believe that patients who take part in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) face risks that they would not face if they opted for non-trial treatment. Others think that trial participation is beneficial and the best way to ensure access to the most up-to-date physicians and treatments. This is an updated version of the original Cochrane review published in Issue 1, 2005.

Measuring physiotherapy performance in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a prospective study.

Background: Patients with knee osteoarthritis [OA] are commonly treated by physiotherapists in primary care. Measuring physiotherapy performance is important before developing strategies to improve quality. The purpose of this study was to measure physiotherapy performance in patients with knee OA by comparing clinical practice to evidence from systematic reviews.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for men who physically abuse their female partner.

Background: In national surveys between 10 % and 34 % of women have reported being physically assaulted by an intimate male partner. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or programmes with elements of CBT are frequently used treatments for physically abusive men. Participants either enroll voluntarily or are obliged to participate in CBT by means of a court order.

Outcomes of patients who participate in randomised controlled trials compared to similar patients receiving similar interventions who do not participate.

Background: Some people believe that patients who take part in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) face risks that they would not face if they opted for non-trial treatment. Others think that trial participation is beneficial and the best way to ensure access to the most up to date physicians and treatments.

Objectives: To assess the effects of patient participation in RCTs ('trial effects') independent both of the effects of the clinical treatments being compared ('treatment effects') and any differences between patients who participated in RCTs and those who did not.

Metabolic syndrome predicts prostate cancer in a cohort of middle-aged Norwegian men followed for 27 years.

The aim of the study was to establish whether metabolic syndrome predicts the incidence of prostate cancer. The hypothesis was tested using the 27-year follow-up of the prospective cohort of 16,209 men aged 40-49 years who participated in the Oslo Study in 1972-1973. Men with established diabetes and men with cancer diagnosed before screening were excluded, leaving 15,933 for analyses.

Rational prescribing in primary care (RaPP): economic evaluation of an intervention to improve professional practice.

Background: Interventions designed to narrow the gap between research findings and clinical practice may be effective, but also costly. Economic evaluations are necessary to judge whether such interventions are worth the effort. We have evaluated the economic effects of a tailored intervention to support the implementation of guidelines for the use of antihypertensive and cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Rational prescribing in primary care (RaPP): a cluster randomized trial of a tailored intervention.

Background: A gap exists between evidence and practice regarding the management of cardiovascular risk factors. This gap could be narrowed if systematically developed clinical practice guidelines were effectively implemented in clinical practice. We evaluated the effects of a tailored intervention to support the implementation of systematically developed guidelines for the use of antihypertensive and cholesterol-lowering drugs for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Pharmaceutical policies: effects of reference pricing, other pricing, and purchasing policies.

Background: Pharmaceuticals can be important for people's health. At the same time drugs are major components of health care costs. Pharmaceutical pricing and purchasing policies are used to determine or affect the prices that are paid for drugs.

Translating research into policy and practice in developing countries: a case study of magnesium sulphate for pre-eclampsia.

Background: The evidence base for improving reproductive health continues to grow. However, concerns remain that the translation of this evidence into appropriate policies is partial and slow. Little is known about the factors affecting the use of evidence by policy makers and clinicians, particularly in developing countries.