The purpose and procedure section in each issue of Evidence-Based Medicine describes the criteria for selecting articles for inclusion. The journals read are also listed in each issue. All articles that meet our criteria in the reviewed journals are cited in Evidence-Based Medicine, but there is not enough space to abstract them all. The following articles passed all criteria but were not abstracted. Practising clinicians rated them for clinical relevance and newsworthiness, and the mean scores are displayed.
THERAPEUTICS
Diagnosis and treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ) 2003 Jan;(68):1–6.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Internal medicine ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Haematology/Thrombosis ★★★★★☆☆
Coomarasamy A, Honest H, Papaioannou S, et al. Aspirin for prevention of preeclampsia in women with historical risk factors: a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol 2003;101:1319–32.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Obstetrics ★★★★★☆☆
Diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease in women: systematic reviews of evidence on selected topics. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ) 2003 May;(81):1–4.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Cardiology ★★★★★☆☆
A pilot randomized double-blind comparison of a low-molecular-weight heparin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, and placebo in the treatment of superficial vein thrombosis. Arch Intern Med 2003;163:1657–63.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Internal medicine ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★☆☆☆ Emergency medicine ★★★★★☆☆ Haematology/thrombosis ★★★★★☆☆
Graham DY, Hammoud F, El-Zimaity HM, et al. Meta-analysis: proton pump inhibitor or H2-receptor antagonist for Helicobacter pylori eradication. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2003;17:1229–36.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Gastroenterology ★★★★★☆☆
Devereux RB, Dahlof B, Kjeldsen SE, et al. Effects of losartan or atenolol in hypertensive patients without clinically evident vascular disease: a substudy of the LIFE randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2003;139:169–77.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★★☆ Cardiology ★★★★★★☆
Leucht S, Barnes TR, Kissling W, et al. Relapse prevention in schizophrenia with new-generation antipsychotics: a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Am J Psychiatry 2003;160:1209–22.
Clinical impact ratings Mental health ★★★★★★☆
Leichsenring F, Leibing E. The effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavior therapy in the treatment of personality disorders: a meta-analysis. Am J Psychiatry 2003;160:1223–32.
Clinical impact ratings Mental health ★★★★★★☆
Aaron SD, Vandemheen KL, Hebert P, et al. Outpatient oral prednisone after emergency treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. N Engl J Med 2003;348:2618–25.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Internal medicine ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Respirology ★★★★★☆☆
Tanen DA, Miller S, French T, et al. Intravenous sodium valproate versus prochlorperazine for the emergency department treatment of acute migraine headaches: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial. Ann Emerg Med 2003;41:847–53.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Emergency medicine ★★★★★☆☆ Internal medicine ★★★☆☆☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Neurology ★★★★★☆☆
Terreehorst I, Hak E, Oosting AJ, et al. Evaluation of impermeable covers for bedding in patients with allergic rhinitis. N Engl J Med 2003;349:237–46.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Allergy ★★★★★★☆
Manes G, Menchise A, de Nucci C, et al. Empirical prescribing for dyspepsia: randomised controlled trial of test and treat versus omeprazole treatment. BMJ 2003;326:1118.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★★☆ Gastroenterology ★★★★★☆☆
Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Deyo RA, et al. A review of the evidence for the effectiveness, safety, and cost of acupuncture, massage therapy, and spinal manipulation for back pain. Ann Intern Med 2003;138:898–906.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Rheumatology ★★★★★☆☆
Verona E, Petrov D, Cserhati E, et al. Fluticasone propionate in asthma: a long term dose comparison study. Arch Dis Child 2003;88:503–9.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Respirology ★★★☆☆ ☆☆ Paediatrics ★★★★★☆☆
Management of bronchiolitis in infants and children. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ) 2003 Jan;(69):1–5.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Emergency Medicine ★★★★☆☆☆ Paediatrics ★★★★★★☆
Ellertson C, Webb A, Blanchard K, et al. Modifying the Yuzpe regimen of emergency contraception: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol 2003;101:1160–7.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆
Allison JE, Hurley LB, Hiatt RA, et al. A randomized controlled trial of test-and-treat strategy for Helicobacter pylori: clinical outcomes and health care costs in a managed care population receiving long-term acid suppression therapy for physician-diagnosed peptic ulcer disease. Arch Intern Med 2003;163:1165–71.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★☆☆☆ Gastroenterology ★★★★★★☆
Jong P, Yusuf S, Rousseau MF, et al. Effect of enalapril on 12-year survival and life expectancy in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a follow-up study. Lancet 2003;361:1843–8.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Cardiology ★★★★☆☆☆
Salman GF, Mosier MC, Beasley BW, et al. Rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Gen Intern Med 2003;18:213–21.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Respirology ★★★★★☆☆
Rodriguez-Moran M, Guerrero-Romero F. Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Diabetes Care 2003;26:1147–52.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★☆☆
Plank J, Haas W, Rakovac I, et al. Evaluation of the impact of chiropodist care in the secondary prevention of foot ulcerations in diabetic subjects. Diabetes Care 2003;26:1691–5.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★☆☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★☆☆
Lee TJ, Baraff LJ, Guzy J, et al. Does telephone triage delay significant medical treatment? Advice nurse service vs on-call pediatricians. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2003;157:635–41.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆
McCrory DC, Gray RN. Oral sumatriptan for acute migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003;(3):CD002915.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Internal medicine ★★★★★☆☆ Neurology ★★★★★☆☆
Thompson Coon JS, Ernst E. Herbs for serum cholesterol reduction: a systematic view. J Fam Pract 2003;52:468–78.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Cardiology ★★★★☆☆☆
Liem A, Reynierse-Buitenwerf GH, Zwinderman AH, et al. Secondary prevention with folic acid: effects on clinical outcomes. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003;41:2105–13.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★☆☆☆ Cardiology ★★★★☆☆☆
Tzourio C, Anderson C, Chapman N, et al. Effects of blood pressure lowering with perindopril and indapamide therapy on dementia and cognitive decline in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Arch Intern Med 2003;163:1069–75.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Geriatrics ★★★★☆☆☆
Hay EM, Thomas E, Paterson SM, et al. A pragmatic randomised controlled trial of local corticosteroid injection and physiotherapy for the treatment of new episodes of unilateral shoulder pain in primary care. Ann Rheum Dis 2003;62:394–9.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆
Torkki M, Malmivaara A, Seitsalo S, et al. Hallux valgus: immediate operation versus 1 year of waiting with or without orthoses: a randomized controlled trial of 209 patients. Acta Orthop Scand 2003;74:209–15.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆
Woodcock A, Forster L, Matthews E, et al. Control of exposure to mite allergen and allergen-impermeable bed covers for adults with asthma. N Engl J Med 2003;349:225–36.
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Allergy ★★★★★★☆ Respirology ★★★★★☆☆