Effectiveness of Evidence-based Treatments of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Children and Adolescents: a Systematic Review Protocol

Overview

Journal BMJ Open

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2018 Mar 12

PMID 29525767

Citations 3

Authors

Deepa Singal

Chantalle Menard

Christine J Neilson

Marni Brownell

Ana Hanlon-Dearman

Albert Chudley

Ryan Zarychanski

Ahmed Abou-Setta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to provide a protocol for a systematic review assessing the effectiveness of evidence from randomised controlled trials comparing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions with placebo/dummy interventions or usual standards of care in children and adolescents (<18 years old).

Methods And Analysis: The following electronic databases will be searched: Medline (Ovid), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Plus with Full text (EBSCO), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library-Wiley), PsycINFO (ProQuest) and Proquest DissertationsandTheses will be searched from inception to March 2017 for relevant citations of published trials using individualised search strategies prepared for database. We will also search the reference lists of relevant articles and conference proceedings. Two reviewers will independently assess each study against predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria and extract data including population characteristics, types and duration of interventions and outcomes from included trials. Internal validity will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Primary outcome measures will be improvements in symptoms, including: hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention as measured by standard rating scales. Secondary outcome measures will include improvements in physical and mental health domains, as well as cognitive, behavioural, social and educational skills as measured by rating scales, standardised psychometric tests of IQ and memory, grade repetition, literacy tests and diagnosis of mental health disorder.

Ethics And Dissemination: Ethical approval will not be obtained since it is not required for systematic reviews as there are no concerns regarding patient privacy. The results of this review will be disseminated through publication in a peer-review journal and presented at relevant conferences.

Prospero Registration Number: CRD42013005996.

Citing Articles

Parental scaffolding in play: A comparison of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and autism spectrum disorder.

Mattson J, Thorne J, Kover S Res Dev Disabil. 2023; 139:104553.

PMID: 37295127 PMC: 10635817. DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104553.

PROTOCOL: Interventions for improving executive functions in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Betts J, Dawe S, Eggins E, Shelton D, Till H, Harnett P Campbell Syst Rev. 2023; 15(1-2):e1009.

PMID: 37131471 PMC: 8533799. DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1009.

Interventions for improving executive functions in children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD): A systematic review.

Betts J, Eggins E, Chandler-Mather N, Shelton D, Till H, Harnett P Campbell Syst Rev. 2023; 18(4):e1258.

PMID: 36908848 PMC: 9634003. DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1258.

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