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Recent Meta-analyses (recent + meta-analyse)
Selected AbstractsWhy Openness to Experience is not a Good Predictor of Job PerformanceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SELECTION AND ASSESSMENT, Issue 3 2004Barbara Griffin Recent meta-analyses investigating the relationship between personality and job performance have found that openness to experience is the least predictive of the Big Five factors. Unlike other research that has sought to explain the low criterion-validity with relation to job performance, this study explores the actual construct of openness to experience, suggesting that it consists of two dimensions that relate differentially to job performance thus reducing correlations between overall measures of openness to experience and performance criteria. Exploratory factor analysis of the six sub-dimensions, or facets, of the NEO PI-R (a popular measure of the Big Five factors) produced two factors of openness to experience corresponding to different areas to which people are open. A confirmatory factor analysis on a second set of data provided some support for this result. A pattern of differential relationships between the two factors and other variables including personality, biodata and supervisor-rated performance offered further support for the multidimensionality of openness to experience. The implications of these findings for future research in the selection context are discussed. [source] Annotation: Children's relationships with their nonresident fathersTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 4 2004Judy Dunn Background:, The frequency of parental separation means that increasing numbers of children have fathers who live in different households from mother-and-child; the significance of contact and relationships between children and their nonresident fathers for children's adjustment is receiving growing attention. Lessons from this research are considered. Methods:, Recent meta-analyses and overviews of research, and key research projects, are discussed. Findings related to contact and relationship quality are the main focus of the annotation. Results:, Economic support from nonresident fathers is related to children's well-being, and continues to be a key factor. Findings on contact are more mixed, especially from early studies; the effect size of associations between contact and positive child outcome has increased in recent research. Quality of child,father relationships is consistently related to adjustment outcome. Authoritative parenting, involvement and feelings of closeness are of particular importance in relation to adjustment, and these links are related to the quality of mother,nonresident father relations, and the mother,child relationship. Age differences, patterns over time, and gender are discussed; the perspectives of fathers and the problems they face in maintaining authoritative relationships are considered. Conclusions:, The significance of child,nonresident father relationships for children's and fathers' well-being is clear and merits further research; fruitful new directions for such research, within the framework of other family relationships, are outlined. [source] How confident should we be that smoking cessation treatments work?ADDICTION, Issue 10 2009John R. Hughes ABSTRACT Aim To determine (i) the concordance among recent meta-analyses about which treatments for smoking cessation are efficacious; (ii) the similarity of odds ratios (ORs) across meta-analyses; and (iii) among the validated treatments, the proportion of studies that found higher quit rates. Methods Computerized literature search for meta-analyses during the last 5 years in PubMed and PsychInfo. Data were extracted from summary tables of overall effect of validated treatments. Results Fourteen meta-analyses agreed 100% on the presence/absence of efficacy of 17 proven treatments. The ORs differed by <0.5 in 72/76 of the comparisons of meta-analyses. Among 37 comparisons in 33 comparisons, >85% of the studies reported numerical superiority for the active treatment. Conclusions The efficacy of treatments for smoking cessation are extremely reliable. This argues for inclusion of treatment as an essential feature of tobacco control and clinical practice and argues for reimbursement of smoking cessation treatments on a par with other medical and behavioral disorders. [source] Thiazolidinedione derivatives in diabetes and cardiovascular disease: an updateFUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Pantelis A. Sarafidis Abstract As the incidence and the public health impact of type 2 diabetes are constantly rising, treatment of hyperglycemia, prevention of diabetes-related complications are currently top medical priorities. Within the last decade several new classes of oral hypoglycemic agents were added to our armamentarium against diabetes. Among these new classes, the group of thiazolidinediones, which act through reduction of insulin resistance is perhaps the most widely used. For about 20 years, numerous background and clinical studies have evaluated the beneficial and adverse effects of these compounds. Current knowledge suggests that thiazolidinediones are as effective as metformin or sulfonylurea derivatives in improving glycemic control and exert several other beneficial metabolic and vascular effects, such as improvement in lipid profile, blood pressure lowering, redistribution of body fat away from the central compartment, microalbuminuria regression, reduction in subclinical vascular inflammation and others. On the other hand, currently used thiazolidinediones have well-established side effects, most important of which are fluid retention leading to weight gain and heart failure deterioration. Further, in the expectance of proper outcome studies to clarify the effects of these agents in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, data from recent meta-analyses suggest that rosiglitazone may increase the risk for some cardiovascular outcomes. This article will discuss all the above issues attempting to provide an updated overview of this expanding field. [source] Assessing the effect of elevated carbon dioxide on soil carbon: a comparison of four meta-analysesGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2009BRUCE A. HUNGATE Abstract Soil is the largest reservoir of organic carbon (C) in the terrestrial biosphere and soil C has a relatively long mean residence time. Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations generally increase plant growth and C input to soil, suggesting that soil might help mitigate atmospheric CO2 rise and global warming. But to what extent mitigation will occur is unclear. The large size of the soil C pool not only makes it a potential buffer against rising atmospheric CO2, but also makes it difficult to measure changes amid the existing background. Meta-analysis is one tool that can overcome the limited power of single studies. Four recent meta-analyses addressed this issue but reached somewhat different conclusions about the effect of elevated CO2 on soil C accumulation, especially regarding the role of nitrogen (N) inputs. Here, we assess the extent of differences between these conclusions and propose a new analysis of the data. The four meta-analyses included different studies, derived different effect size estimates from common studies, used different weighting functions and metrics of effect size, and used different approaches to address nonindependence of effect sizes. Although all factors influenced the mean effect size estimates and subsequent inferences, the approach to independence had the largest influence. We recommend that meta-analysts critically assess and report choices about effect size metrics and weighting functions, and criteria for study selection and independence. Such decisions need to be justified carefully because they affect the basis for inference. Our new analysis, with a combined data set, confirms that the effect of elevated CO2 on net soil C accumulation increases with the addition of N fertilizers. Although the effect at low N inputs was not significant, statistical power to detect biogeochemically important effect sizes at low N is limited, even with meta-analysis, suggesting the continued need for long-term experiments. [source] Cognition following bilateral deep brain stimulation surgery of the subthalamic nucleus for Parkinson's diseaseINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 5 2009Casey H. Halpern Abstract Objective Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by significant motor dysfunction and various non-motor disturbances, including cognitive alterations. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an increasingly utilized therapeutic option for patients with PD that yields remarkable success in alleviating disabling motor symptoms. DBS has additionally been associated with changes in cognition, yet the evidence is not consistent across studies. The following review sought to provide a clearer understanding of the various cognitive sequelae of bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS while taking into account corresponding neuroanatomy and potential confounding variables. Design A literature search was performed using the following inclusion criteria: (1) at least five subjects followed for a mean of at least 3 months after surgery; (2) pre- and postoperative cognitive data using at least one standardized measure; (3) adequate report of study results using means and standard deviations. Results Two recent meta-analyses found mild post-operative impairments in verbal learning and executive function in patients who underwent DBS surgery. However, studies have revealed improved working memory and psychomotor speed in the ,on' vs ,off' stimulation state. A deficit in language may be a consequence of the surgical procedure. Conclusions While cognitive decline has been observed in some domains, our review of the data suggests that STN DBS is a worthwhile and safe method to treat PD. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] An economic evaluation of different sinus lift techniquesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 8 2010Stefan Listl Listl S, Faggion CM. An economic evaluation of different sinus lift techniques. J Clin Periodontol 2010; 37: 777-787 doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2010.01577.x. Abstract Purpose: To identify the most cost-effective approach to sinus lifting on the basis of currently available evidence. Methods: We incorporate the costs and clinical outcomes of nine different sinus lift techniques within a decision tree model in which costs are based on insurance regulations in Germany and health outcomes follow two recent meta-analyses. The most cost-effective treatment option is identified on the basis of the maximum net benefit criterion. Uncertainties regarding health outcomes are incorporated via probabilistic sensitivity analysis based on Monte-Carlo simulation. Results: When there are no financial restrictions, the optimum treatment strategy is the lateral approach with autogenous particulate bone and a resorbable membrane. When, however, monetary resources for sinus-floor elevation are scarce, the most cost-effective option is the transalveolar technique without bone grafting. Only if relatively high costs can be afforded or if initial bone height at implant site is below 5 mm is the maximum net benefit achieved by lateral approaches. Conclusions: On the basis of currently available evidence, the transalveolar technique is advisable when monetary resources for sinus-floor elevation are scarce and initial bone height is sufficiently high. Lateral approaches are primarily recommended for lower pre-operative bone heights. [source] Cardiovascular risk of rosiglitazone: another perspectiveJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 12 2008Javier C. Waksman Rosiglitazone is an effective therapy for type 2 diabetes although concerns have grown about the incidence of oedema and cardiovascular adverse events in patients treated with the drug. The following review was conducted to evaluate further and complement the evidence linking rosiglitazone with an increased risk for cardiovascular adverse events by examining trials and case reports not included in recent meta-analyses. Rosiglitazone-related publications describing case reports and prospective and retrospective cohort analyses were identified using MEDLINE and EMBASE, from July 1999 to July 2007. Relevant reports cited in these publications were also obtained. A recently-published meta-analysis and a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial were also reviewed. This review of 20 case reports and 10 uncontrolled studies supports the need for added vigilance when prescribing rosiglitazone to patients for the treatment of type 2 diabetes who may be at risk for congestive heart failure. Clinical data from numerous case reports and uncontrolled studies suggested that patients receiving rosiglitazone should be monitored for the development of weight gain or oedema. Prudence should be observed in patients with a history or risk factors for congestive heart failure as they may be poor candidates for rosiglitazone therapy. [source] Absence of Iatrogenic or Contagion Effects in Adolescent Group Therapy: Findings from the Cannabis Youth Treatment (CYT) StudyTHE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS, Issue 2006Joseph A. Burleson PhD Though widely used and presumed effective in practice, some scholars (Dishion et al., 1999) have raised the concern that group therapy for adolescents with substance use disorder and a range of deviancy has the potential for causing iatrogenic effects (e.g., increased substance use, behavior and legal problems) for those with low deviancy. Using data from 400 youth in the largest adolescent treatment experiment conducted to date (Dennis et al., 2004), this study shows that group composition in terms of conduct disorder symptoms is not associated with worse substance use, psychological, environmental or legal treatment outcomes. The results actually indicated that there was a slight advantage for youth with high conduct disorder to be included in the groups with less symptoms. The results appear consistent with recent meta-analyses of delinquency studies (Lipsey, 2006) which have found no evidence of iatrogenic effects. These results support the common clinical belief that group therapy for youths with substance use disorders is a safe and effective treatment modality. [source] | ||||||||||