Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Is Platelet Rich Plasma (Prp) Injection An Effective Therapy In Improving Patient Functional Outcomes And Decreasing Pain Postoperatively In Adults With Meniscal Repairs?, Paige A. Foschi

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine: “Is platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection an effective therapy in improving patient functional outcomes and decreasing pain postoperatively in adults with meniscal repairs.”

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2018 and 2019.

Data Sources: All three RCTs were discovered using PubMed, AMED, CINAHL Plus, and Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Source. The articles were published in English in peer-reviewed journals and selected based on applicability to the clinical question.

Outcome Measured: Patients’ pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the …

Does Dance Therapy During Active Labor Reduce Labor Pain?, Sarah E. Naber

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine “Does dance therapy during active labor decrease labor pain?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of two randomized control trials and a cohort study that were published in English between 2014 and 2020.

DATA SOURCES: Three studies were obtained from PubMed, Alt HealthWatch, and AMED. They were all published in peer-reviewed journals and chosen based on their relevance to the clinical question proposed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The main outcome measured in all three studies is pain during active labor. Pain was measured in all studies using the visual analog scale (VAS). …

Does Administration Of An Anterior Suprascapular Nerve Block Improve Post-Operative Pain And Reduce Opioid Consumption When Compared To Traditional Interscalene Nerve Plexus Block In Adults Undergoing Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery?, Tyler Trobetsky

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does administration of an anterior suprascapular nerve block improve post-operative pain and reduce opioid consumption when compared to traditional interscalene nerve plexus block in adults undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.”

Study Design: A review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English between 2017-2020.

Data Sources: All three articles used are peer-reviewed RCTs that were discovered using PubMed. The articles were evaluated and selected based on their ability to answer the proposed clinical question.

Outcome Measured: All three articles measured and compared post-operative pain using numerical …

Does Atomoxetine Improve Inattentiveness In Adults With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?, Sarah Defelice

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review of three composite studies is to determine whether or not atomoxetine improves inattentiveness in adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

Study Design: A systematic review of three blinded randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2011 and 2021.

Data Sources: Research was gathered from PubMed and Embase in December 2020-February 2021 for the three RCTs, and supplemental articles were found in September through November 2021 from PubMed. All three RCTs were published in English and found in peer-reviewed journals and were chosen based on their relevance to the topic question.

Outcome Measured: A …

Does Hippotherapy Improve Gross Motor Function In Children With Cerebral Palsy?, Victoria I. Bockius

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does hippotherapy improve gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy?”.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with one being a randomized crossover trial. All three were published between 2015 and 2018.

DATA SOURCES: Three RCTs published in peer-reviewed journals were chosen from PubMed. The studies were selected based on their relevance to the clinical question.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome measured was improvement in gross motor function. Either hip adductor spasticity using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) or the Gross Motor Function …

Is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (Tens) An Effective Treatment For Pain Caused By Knee Osteoarthritis?, Zuhra Nassery

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “is TENS an effective treatment for pain caused by knee osteoarthritis?”.

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2012 and 2019.

Data Sources: All RCTs were discovered utilizing PubMed. The articles were published in English in peer-reviewed journals and selected based on applicability and pertinence to the clinical question as well as the incorporation of patient-oriented outcomes.

Outcome Measured: Knee pain was the outcome measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which requires participants to draw a mark between the …

Does Medical Clowning Impact Anxiety In The Pediatric Population Undergoing Medical Interventions?, Kelso Blaze

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to investigate the question, “does medical clowning impact anxiety in the pediatric patient undergoing medical interventions?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized control trials (RCT).

DATA SOURCES: These articles were published between 2012-2021 in English. The in peer-reviewed journals, searched for using PubMed.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: The outcomes measured included anxiety level in pediatric patients undergoing medical interventions.

RESULTS: In the RCT led by Dionigi et al., medical clowning led to a reduction in pediatric patient anxiety compared with the control group (P < 0.005), indicated by a mean change from baseline of 17. In the RCT by Felluga et al., medical clowning led to a reduction in pediatric patient anxiety compared with the control group (P < 0.05), indicated by a mean change from baseline of 1. Lastly, Mieri et al. demonstrated a reduction pediatric patient anxiety with medical clowning, indicated by a mean change from baseline of 0.04 with statistical significance of P < 0.05 in the treatment group.

CONCLUSION: All three studies in this review demonstrated that …

Is Massage Therapy Effective At Reducing Negative Behaviors In Patients With Dementia?, Casey Reid

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is massage therapy effective at reducing negative behaviors in patients with dementia?”

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized control trials (RCTs) published between 2014 and 2018.

Data Sources: All three sources were discovered using PubMed. The articles were published in English, in peer-reviewed journals, and selected based on applicability to the clinical question.

Outcome Measured: A reduction in the number of negative behaviors performed by patients with dementia was the outcome measured in all three studies using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory-Short Form (CMAI) or …

Does A Low-Fodmap Diet Decrease Symptoms In Patients With Ibs?, Julia Rembalsky

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this evidence-based medicine analysis is to determine whether or not a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs), decreases overall symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Study Design: A systematic review including three randomized control trials (RCTs), which were conducted between the years 2014 and 2019.

Data Sources: The RCTs used were located through PubMed. All articles were selected from peer-reviewed journals that directly related to the clinical question and patient centered outcomes.

Outcome Measured: A reduction in symptoms related to IBS was measured using the IBS-Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS) and …

Does Inspiratory Muscle Training (Imt) Improve Sleep Quality In Adult Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea?, Zoe Tirado

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not inspiratory muscle training (IMT) improves sleep quality in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCT) published between 2018 and 2020.

Data Sources: All articles were published in peer reviewed journals and obtained using PubMed, AMED, CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE databases. The studies were chosen based on their relevance to the clinical question.

Outcome Measured: The outcome measured in all three studies was subjective improvement in sleep quality. The participants overall sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh …

Does Collagenase Injection Decrease Recurrence Rates Greater Than Percutaneous Needle Fasciotomy In The Treatment Of Dupuytren’S Contracture?, Elisabeth Cawley

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not collagenase injection decreases recurrence rates greater than percutaneous needle fasciotomy in the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture.

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized control trials.

Data Sources: The reviewed articles were written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals between 2016 and 2017. These articles were chosen based on their ability to answer the proposed question of this review and obtained through Cochran and PubMed databases.

Outcomes Measured: Outcomes were measured by the recurrence of contractures, which is defined as passive extension deficits of 20-30 …

Does Aerobic Exercise Decrease Bloating Symptoms In Females With Pre-Menstrual Syndrome?, Kelley N. Davis

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether aerobic exercise is effective at improving bloating symptoms in females with premenstrual syndrome.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one quasi-experimental trial (analyzed as a case series) published in English after 2010.

DATA SOURCES: All articles were obtained from peer reviewed databases and journals via PubMed, AMED, Cochrane Library.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome measured was reduction in bloating symptoms after an aerobic exercise regimen using the questionnaires of temporary determination of PMS for Dehnavi et al, premenstrual distress questionnaire and daily symptom …

Do Lactobacillus Containing Probiotics Improve Symptoms Of Gas Production In Patients With Lactose Intolerance And Lactose Maldigestion?, Kelsie Godward

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Lactobacillus containing probiotics improve symptoms of gas production in patients with lactose intolerance and lactose maldigestion.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of two randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover trials (RCTs) and one case series. Each article was published in English after 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Articles were obtained through PubMed and Cochrane Library databases. All articles were published in peer-reviewed journals and selected for their relevance to the clinical question.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Patient perception of gas production, defined as flatulence and distention or bloating, was measured in …

Is Erythropoietin Effective At Preventing Neurodevelopmental Symptoms In Neonates Born With Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy?, Kaitlyn Gresko

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does erythropoietin prevent neurodevelopmental symptoms in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of one randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial, one randomized, non-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial, and one case controlled non-randomized, non-blinded prospective pilot trial between 2009-2019, all written in English language and peer reviewed.

DATA SOURCES: The randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial was found using PubMed. The randomized, non-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial and casecontrolled pilot study were found on Embase.

OUTCOME MEASURED: The outcome measured was …

Is Acupuncture Effective In Improving The Mental Health In Adults With Chronic Neck Pain?, Madison Joiner

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in treating chronic neck pain in patients between the ages of 25-70y/o.

Study design: Review of three randomized controlled trials published in English language between 2010-2018.

Data sources: Three RCTs published in peer reviewed journals, searched through PubMed.

Outcome measured: The outcome measured included improvement in mental health. This was measured using short form 36 (SF-36).

Results: Cerezo-Téllez et al treatment showed significant improvement in patients mental health 3 months post acupuncture treatment compared to sham acupuncture. Liang et al also found significant …

Does Edaravone Slow Disease Progression In Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?, J. Michael Rutledge

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this EBM review is to determine whether or not Edaravone is effective at slowing disease progression in patients with ALS.

Study Design: Review of three randomized control trials.

Data Source: All articles were published in English between 2014 and 2019. Articles were obtained from peer-reviewed journals and databases using Cochrane Collaboration, PubMed, Medline, and Embase.

Outcomes: The outcome measured was physical function assessed by the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment and Questionnaire 40 Revised (ALSAQ-40R). Patients are asked to provide a perceived ability rating on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 indicating perfect health and …

Does The Combination Of A Proteasome Inhibitor, Lenalidomide, And Dexamethasone Reduce Fatigue In Patients With Relapsed Or Refractory Multiple Myeloma?, Jessica I. Larosa

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “the combination of a proteasome inhibitor, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone reduce fatigue in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM)?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three English language open-label clinical trials with one published in 2013 and two published in 2016.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized open-label, phase 3 clinical trials and one open-label phase 2 cohort study found using PubMed and Cochrane Library. All sources were published in peer-reviewed journals.

OUTCOME MEASURED: Fatigue was the outcome measured in all three studies utilizing Common Terminology Criteria …

Can Spinal Manipulation Be Used As An Effective Method To Reduce Pain For Patients With A Lumbar Disc Herniation Compared To Traditional Methods?, Aaron Blady

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “can spinal manipulation be used as an effective method to reduce pain for patients with a lumbar disc herniation compared to traditional methods?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of one randomized controlled trial, one randomized controlled pilot study, and one double-blind, randomized control trial published in 2010 and after. All studies were published in English.

DATA SOURCES: Data sources for this review were articles published in peer-reviewed journals using PubMed Database.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: The outcome measured was change in pain. This was accomplished by using a …

Does Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Improve Disease Severity In Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients Compared To Placebo?, Savannah Willbanks

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not fecal microbiota transplantation improves disease severity in irritable bowel syndrome patients compared to placebo.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials published since 2014.

DATA SOURCES: Articles found using PubMed, Cochrane Library, AMED and CINAHL Plus and selected based on their relevance to the clinical question. All sources published in peer reviewed journals in English.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: Disease severity of irritable bowel syndrome measured in all three studies using the IBS-severity scoring system (IBS-SSS).

RESULTS: The primary endpoint evaluated in all studies …

Is Risankizumab Effective In Decreasing Scaling And Percentage Of Body Surface Area Affected Amongst Adults With Moderate-Severe Plaque Psoriasis?, Angel L. Berry

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to assess if risankizumab is effective in decreasing the percentage of scaling and body surface area affected amongst those with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

STUDY DESIGN: A review of three peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials published between 2015-2018.

DATA SOURCES: The three randomized controlled trials were located using the PubMed database. The studies were selected based upon patient-oriented evidence that matters (POEMs) in correlation to answering the question proposed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Outcomes were measured through the Psoriasis Area Severity Index Score.

RESULTS: The studies done by Gordon et al., Krueger et …

Is Canagliflozin Effective In Lowering The Risk Of All-Cause Mortality In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Compared To The Placebo?, Bao Tran Luu

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “canagliflozin is effective in lowering the risk of all-cause mortality in adults with type 2 diabetes compared to the placebo?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three English language, primary, double-blind, randomized controlled trials published from 2013 to 2019.

DATA SOURCES: All primary studies were published in peer reviewed journals and selected through PubMed and Cochrane databases comparing canagliflozin vs. placebo.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: All-cause mortality, defined as death of patient within the study interval and expressed as number of death/ total participants over the study time …

Does The Use Of Intranasal Oxytocin In The Treatment Of Women With Anorexia Nervosa Improve Recognition Of Emotional Expression Compared To Placebo?, Alyssa N. Kearney

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does the use of intranasal oxytocin in the treatment of women with anorexia nervosa improve recognition of emotional expression compared to placebo?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three studies that were published in English between 2014-2018.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two with a crossover design, that were published in peer-reviewed journals and found via PubMed. Articles were chosen based on pertinence to the clinical question.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Improvement in the ability to recognize facial expressions were measured through the Reading the Mind …

Is Honey Effective In Reducing Pain For People Who Had Tonsillectomy?, Bong H. Suh

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence based medicine (EBM) review is to determine whether or not “Is honey is effective in reducing pain for people who had tonsillectomy?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review two randomized control trials and one cohort study published in English between 2009 and 2019.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized control trials and one cohort study were found using PubMed databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The primary outcome measured was the pain intensity after tonsillectomy. The study by Mohebbi et al. and Hatami et al. used visual analog scale (VAS) and the study by Abdullah et al. used the facial pain …

Does Onabotulinumtoxin Type A Reduce Interference Of Daily Activities For Adults With Hyperhidrosis?, Cally M. Richardson

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does onabotulinumtoxin type A reduce interference of daily activities for adults with hyperhidrosis?”

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized control trials (RCTs) published after 2009 in peer-reviewed journals in the English language. These RCTs compared the efficacy of onabotulinumtoxin type A (BTX-A) to other treatment modalities in reducing the interference of daily activities for adults with hyperhidrosis.

Data Sources: Three RCTs were selected after searching the databases Pubmed, CINAHL plus, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Central Register of Controlled Trials. Inclusion criteria was relevant studies …

Is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Tms) An Effective Therapy In Reducing Depressive Symptoms In Adults With Bipolar Depression?, Emily M. Boylan

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an effective therapy in reducing depressive symptoms in adults with bipolar depression.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were published in the English language between 2016 and 2019.

DATA SOURCES: Data sources included articles found using PubMed as the search engine and were selected based on their relevance to the research question as well as patient measured outcomes.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Outcomes measured include changes in depression symptoms measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) …

Can Progressive Muscle Relaxation (Pmr), As An Adjunctive Therapy, Effectively Reduce Depression Symptoms In Cancer Patients?, Edward L. Nolan

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is an effective adjunctive therapy in reducing depression symptoms in cancer patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one being modified and used a case series, from peer reviewed journals, published in 2015, 2016 and 2018.

DATA SOURCES: The studies compare the effectiveness of PMR versus other therapies such as routine nursing care and weekly visits with psychologists. All studies were found using PubMed and Cochrane Library.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Depression symptoms perceived by the patient and measure by …

Is Exercise Therapy Effective In Improving Symptoms Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder In Adults?, Gabrielle Evans

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not exercise therapy is effective in improving symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in 2015 and 2018 and one case-series study published in 2015; all articles were published in English language and compared the efficacy of exercise therapy for improvement of PTSD symptoms in adults.

DATA SOURCES: Two RCTs and one case-series study were found using PubMed. All of the articles were published in peer reviewed journals. All articles were selected based on their relevance to …

Is 17 Alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Effective For Preventing Preterm Labor In High Risk Women?, Hannah E. Mercado

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is 17- alpha hydroxyprogesterone effective for preventing preterm labor in high risk women?”.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of one randomized, double blind, controlled trial, one randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial and one randomized controlled trial published in English between 2015 and 2018.

DATA SOURCES: All three studies were gathered from peer- reviewed journals and found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Preterm delivery defined as birth less than 37 weeks gestation for Facchinetti et al., Shadab et al. and Winer et al.6,7,8

RESULTS: The RCT performed by Facchinetti …

Is Clonidine Effective In Reducing Duration Of Treatment In Infants Admitted For Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome?, Fiona Halloran

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not clonidine is effective in reducing duration of treatment in infants admitted for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

Study Design: Review of two randomized control trials and one retrospective cohort design.

Data Sources: All articles were published in English in peer reviewed journals between the years of 2015 and 2019. Articles were obtained from peer reviewed journals and databased using PubMed and Cochrane Library.

Outcomes: Outcomes measured were duration of treatment and duration of treatment of morphine, measured in days.

Results: The infants treated with clonidine in Bada …

Does Honey Provide Therapeutic Relief To Patients With Chemotherapy Induced Oral Mucositis?, Jennifer Grugan

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “does honey provide therapeutic relief to patients with chemotherapy induced oral mucositis?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of one double-blind randomized control trial (RCT), one RCT, and one cohort study.

DATA SOURCES: All articles were published in English and taken from peer-reviewed journals using PubMed. All articles were published between 2012-2019.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured included decreased severity of oral mucositis measured in one study using the WHO Oral Toxicity Scale and another using WHOSTC (Stomatitis Toxicity Criteria). Another outcome measured was recovery time, which was defined …