Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Do Dynamic Ankle Foot Orthotics (Dafo) Improve Gait In Pediatric Patients With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy (Cp)?, Matthew F. Valentine

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not dynamic ankle foot orthotics (DAFO) improve gait in pediatric patients with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two randomized controlled trials with crossover from 2009 and 2015 and one blinded randomized controlled trial from 2006.

DATA SOURCES: All articles were presented in English and were taken from peer reviewed sources using PubMed and Google Scholar. All articles were published between 2006-2016.

OUTCOMES: Outcomes of investigation measured are quantitative walking velocity measured via gait analysis and functional ability during ambulation using the Gross Motor …

Is The Use Of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Both Safe And Effective In Preventing And Treating Postherpetic Neuralgia?, Danielle Suzenski

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the use of TENS is safe and effective in preventing and treating PHN.

STUDY DESIGN: Two randomized controlled trials and one retrospective observational study that were published in peer-reviewed journals after 2006 in the English language were reviewed.

DATA SOURCES: Studies were found in the PubMed database and selected based on relevance to the research question and whether they evaluated patient oriented outcomes.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Prevention of PHN, determined by absence or presence of symptoms, and reduction of pain due to PHN, using a visual analog …

Does Pembrolizumab Have An Effect On Prolonging Overall Survival In Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Expressing Programmed Death Ligand-1 (Pd-L1)?, Ha Y. Song

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not pembrolizumab has an effect on prolonging overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer expressing programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1).

Study Design: Review of two randomized controlled trials and one cohort study published in English in peer review journals.

Data Sources: Two randomized controlled trials and one cohort study, which evaluated the efficacy of pembrolizumab on non-small cell lung cancer with PD-L1 expression compared to chemotherapy. All studies were found in PubMed database.

Outcomes Measured: Overall survival measured by Kaplan-Meier analysis of overall survival.

Results: Both …

Is Tanezumab More Effective Than A Placebo In Reducing Pain In Patients With Osteoarthritis?, Nesdi Rivera

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not, “Is tanezumab more effective than a placebo in reducing pain in patients with osteoarthritis?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trials from 2012 to 2015.

DATA SOURCES: Three double-blind randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were found using PubMed, and selected based on outcomes measured and relevance to the objective.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Clinical outcomes of knee and hip osteoarthritis pain were measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scale to assess pain before and after treatment with tanezumab and comparison. …

Is Asenapine Or Aripiprazole More Effective Than A Placebo For Reducing Episodes Of Mania In Children With Bipolar I Disorder?, Nicole Silva

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not asenapine or aripiprazole are more effective than a placebo for reducing episodes of mania in children with bipolar I disorder.

Study Design: Review of two randomized control trials (RCTs) published in 2013 and 2015, and a flexible-dose, open-label, extension study published in 2016.

Data Sources: Each article used was published in English and found using PubMed database. All articles were published in peer-reviewed journals.

Outcomes Measured: The clinical superiority of asenapine and aripiprazole were measured by a change in baseline in the Young Mania Rating Scale …

Does Continuous Subcutaneous Hydrocortisone Infusion Therapy Improve Vitality In Adult Patients With Addison’S Disease When Compared To Oral Hydrocortisone Therapy?, Vanessa Rivas

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective systematic review is to determine whether or not continuous subcutaneous hydrocortisone infusion (CSHI) therapy improves vitality in adult patients with Addison’s disease when compared to oral hydrocortisone therapy.

STUDY DESIGN: This systematic review used three peer reviewed articles published in English. The articles were a crossover randomized control trial, a double bind placebo controlled clinical trial, and a case series published from 2007 to 2014.

DATA SOURCES: The crossover randomized control trial and the double blind, placebo randomized control trial compared adult patients with Addison’s disease vitality scores when taking oral hydrocortisone tablets to …

Which Surgical Intervention For Patients Suffering From Isthmic Lumbar Spondylolisthesis, Posterolateral Fusion (Plf) Or Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (Plif), Shows The Most Improvement In Lower Back Pain For Patients Younger Than 65 Who Have Failed 6 Months Of Conservative Therapy?, Timothy R. Shank

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is a superior surgical intervention compared to posterolateral fusion (PLF) for treating patients younger than 65 years old with isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis who have failed 6 months of conservative therapy.

Study Design: Systemic review of three English language primary studies comparing the efficacy of PLF and PLIF surgical approaches for isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis published after 2006.

Data Sources: Three randomized controlled trials published after 2006 selected from PubMed based on their relevance to the proposed question.

Outcomes Measured: The outcomes measured …

Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Cbt) Reduce Symptoms Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) In Patients Older Than 12 Years Old Who Are Diagnosed With Adhd?, Rebecca Ruby

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does cognitive therapy reduce symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in patients older than 12 years old who are diagnosed with ADHD?”

Study Design: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in peer-reviewed journals in 2016, all English language

Data Sources: Three randomized controlled trials were found using PubMed.

Outcomes Measured: ADHD symptoms and patients’ response to cognitive therapy were measured by patients, parents of patients, and independent evaluators with Disruptive Behavior Disorder rating scales that included four scales of the Diagnostic and …

Is Video Game-Based Therapy Effective In Increasing The Physical Abilities Of Children Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy?, Alycia K. Ramsey

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not video game-based therapy is effective in increasing the physical abilities of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three English language randomized controlled trials (RCTs), all published after 2006.

DATA SOURCES: Two cross-over RCTs and one single-blind RCT, which analyzed video game-based therapy in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. All studies were found using PubMed.

OUTCOME MEASURED: Each of the articles analyzed the effects of video game-based therapy on physical abilities, which were assessed by upper limb function, stable balance, and coordination. These …

Are High-Dose Cocoa Polyphenols Effective In Improving Emotional States In Healthy Individuals Ages 18-65 Years Old For Long-Term Treatment?, Melissa M. Sharkey

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not high-dose cocoa polyphenols are effective in improving emotional states in healthy individuals ages 18-65 years old for long-term treatment.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one randomized parallel open-label clinical trial, all published between 2008 and 2013, all English language.

DATA SOURCES: These three studies that evaluate the effectiveness of cocoa polyphenols in emotional state improvement were found using the PubMed database based on their relevance to the clinical question and their inclusion of patient-oriented outcomes.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: These three articles …

Does Coconut Oil Aid In Improving The Outcome Of Dermatologic Conditions, Particularly Acute Tungiasis And Atopic Dermatitis, By Improving Lesions And Lessening Discomfort?, Karen Olshanskaya

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not coconut oil is effective in treating dermatologic conditions, particularly acute tungiasis and atopic dermatitis, which cause xerosis, skin atrophy, and lesions.

Study Design: This is a systematic review of a cohort study and two double blind randomized control trials written in English, published between 2008 – 2015.

Data Sources: Resources for this review were found through peer reviewed articles published on PubMed databases

Outcomes Measured: Appearance of the lesions caused by atopic dermatitis or acute tungiasis were assessed in regards to size, erythema, edema, and oozing, …

Is Reslizumab Effective In Improving Quality Of Life And Asthma Control In Adolescent And Adult Patients With Poorly Controlled Eosinophilic Asthma?, Carrie A. Notestine

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not reslizumab is effective in improving quality of life and asthma control in adolescent and adult patients with poorly controlled eosinophilic asthma.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a systematic review of three randomized controlled trials, published in peer-reviewed journals from 2015 and 2016.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials comparing the effectiveness of reslizumab to a placebo in improving quality of life and asthma control. Articles were found using CINAL and PubMed databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Outcomes measured include quality of life, assessed using the Asthma Quality …

Does Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation Decrease Pain In Patients With Musculoskeletal Complaints?, Jessica Ritegno

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not instrument assisted soft tissue manipulation (IASTM) is an effective therapy in decreasing patient reported pain originating from musculoskeletal sources.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials published between 2007-2016, all in English language.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled studies, which studied the effects of IASTM on various musculoskeletal regions of patient reported pain compared to patients who received other forms of treatment, were obtained using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome of each study was a patient reported decrease in pain using a visual analog …

Does Yoga Therapy Improve Physical Pain In Females And Males With Diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis?, Rebecca Nolan

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not yoga therapy improves physical pain in females and males over the age of 18 with diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis.

DESIGN: Review of three randomized control trials (RCTs), two written in English and one written in Hindi and translated to English, which were published in 2011, 2013, and 2015.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized control trials, one of which was a double blind study, published in peer-reviewed journals found via PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Physical pain due to rheumatoid arthritis was measured using Short form (SF36) Physical Component Summary, which …

Is Yoga An Effective Treatment For Reducing The Frequency Of Episodic Migraine?, Adrienne L. Ockrymiek

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM topic is to determine whether or not, “Is yoga an effective treatment for reducing the frequency of episodic migraine?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of 3 English language primary studies published between 2007 and 2015.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized control trials (RCTs) were found using PubMed search criteria. These studies analyzed the frequency of migraine experienced by sufferers as influenced by yoga therapy.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Migraine frequency was measured as self-­‐reported by the participants in each study.

RESULTS: All three studies demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the number of migraine episodes after yoga therapy …

Is Dry Cupping Therapy Effective For Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain In Adults?, Kaila Muser

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) review is to determine whether or not “Dry Cupping Therapy is effective for non-specific chronic neck pain in adults?”

Study Design: Review of 3 randomized controlled trials (RCT)

Data Sources: All studies were published in peer-reviewed journals found in PubMed or Cochrane Database.

Outcomes measured: Patients were divided into two groups, the experimental group or the control group. Patients in the experimental group received dry cupping therapy. Patients in the control group received no therapy at all, normal standard of care (physiotherapy, sports activities, analgesics), or progressive muscle relaxation. The …

Does Adalimumab Prevent The Loss Of Visual Acuity In Patients With Uveitis?, Michael Moore

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not adalimumab prevents the loss of visual acuity in patients with uveitis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published between 2013-2016.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized controlled phase 3 trials and one retrospective study were found using PubMed. The RCT’s compared treatment with adalimumab to placebo in patients with noninfectious uveitis, while the retrospective study solely assessed outcomes in patients with noninfectious uveitis receiving adalimumab treatment.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: For the two RCT’s, the clinical outcome of time to treatment failure due to worsening visual acuity …

Does Lavender Aromatherapy Or Tea Improve Quality Of Sleep In Women?, Meredith A. Mcnelis

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does Lavender Aromatherapy or Tea Improve Quality of Sleep in Women?”

Study Design: Systematic review of three English language, primary, randomized controlled trials published between 2012 and 2015.

Data Sources: Three randomized controlled trials were obtained using PubMed and NCBI.

Outcomes Measured: The clinical outcome of sleep quality was measured in these studies via the Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale (PSQS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Chinese Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI).

Results: Statistical significance was determined for each randomized control trial (RCT) using pvalue …

Do Oral Probiotics In Conjunction With Fluconazole Reduce Symptoms Among Patients Suffering From Vulvovaginal Candidiasis?, Kayla Mcdaid

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Do oral probiotics in conjunction with fluconazole reduce symptoms among patients suffering from vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC)?”

Study design: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials published in 2009 and 2012.

Data sources: Three randomized controlled trials published in peer-reviewed journals comparing the effects of fluconazole in conjunction with probiotics in the treatment of VVC. Data sources found using Embase, EMBScohost, and CINAHL

Outcomes measured: Outcomes were measured based on patients reporting of: decrease in dysuria symptoms at 5-7 days post treatment, resolution of abnormal odorless cheese …

Are The Use Of Probiotics An Effective Treatment For Relieving Symptoms Of Depression In Adults?, Olynda B. Mileon-Etuk

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM is to determine whether or not, “Are the use of antibiotics an effective treatment for relieving symptoms of depression in adults?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies, published between 2010- 2016.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were found using PubMed- NCBI. These studies analyzed the effectiveness of probiotics in adults with symptoms of depression.

OUTCOME MEASURED: The main outcome measured was improvement of symptoms of depression after the administration of probiotic supplements. Outcomes were assessed using data from self-reported questionnaires, which include the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-90), Hospital …

Do Cdk 4/6 Inhibitors, In Combination With Anti-Estrogen Therapy, Improve Morbidity And Mortality In Women With Advanced Breast Cancer Compared To Anti-Estrogen Therapy Alone?, Kayla Mercado

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not CDK 4/6 inhibitors, in combination with anti-estrogen therapy, improve morbidity and mortality for women with advanced breast cancer compared to anti-estrogen monotherapy.

Study Design: Systematic review of three randomized-controlled trials. All three articles were published in English between 2015 and 2016.

Data Sources: Two randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials and one open-label randomized controlled trial found using PubMed and NCBI.

Outcomes Measured: Each study assessed morbidity and mortality based on progression-free survival or overall clinical benefit (stable disease, partial response, or complete response by 24 weeks).

Results: …

Are Tnf-Α Inhibitors Infliximab And Certolizumab Pegol Effective In Treating Adults With Psoriatic Arthritis (Psa) Or Psa Patients Who Have Previously Failed Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (Dmard) Therapy?, Matthew B. Louis

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether TNF-α inhibitors Infliximab and Certolizumab pegol are effective in treating adults with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) or PsA patients who have previously failed disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy

Study Design: Review of three randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trials published after 2006.

Data sources: Three articles were found on PubMed and chosen based upon patient oriented outcomes relevant to the patient population. The population study was adults with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and patients with PsA who failed prior DMARD therapy. Infliximab and certolizumab pegol were analyzed for treatment efficacy. …

Does Herbal Medicine Have An Effect On The Cognitive Function Of Patients With Mild To Moderate Alzheimer’S Disease Over The Age Of 50?, Melissa Liebman

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence based medicine review is to determine whether or not “herbal medicine has an effect on the cognitive function of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease over the age of 50”.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three double-blind, randomized control trials published between 2003 and 2015. All studies were published in English language in peer reviewed journals.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized control trials were found via PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured include changes in Alzheimer’s symptoms based upon a neurologist, improvement of Alzheimer’s symptoms based on ADAS-cog and CDR-SOB clinical rating scale, and …

Is Wet Cupping Effective In Decreasing Persistent Nonspecific Low Back Pain In Adults?, Emily C. Marshall

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is wet cupping effective in decreasing persistent nonspecific low back pain in adults?”

Study Design: Review of 3 RCTs published between 2009- current, all in the English language.

Data Sources: Three RCTs analyzed the effectiveness of wet cupping on the reduction of persistent nonspecific low back pain (PNSLBP) compared to a control group using other various analgesic therapies. All studies were found on EBSCOhost and were selected based on relevance to the question and being a POEM.

Outcomes measured: All of the articles analyzed the effectiveness …

Is Curcumin Effective In Reducing Pain In Arthritis Patients?, Julie C. Lando

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the selective EBM review is to determine whether or not, “Is curcumin effective at reducing pain in arthritis patients?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three, double blind, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published between 2012 and 2014, all in English language. The articles compared oral curcumin to visually matched placebo or accepted standard treatment.

DATA SOURCES: Three RCTs were found using PubMed. All articles were published in peerreviewed journals and selected based on correlation to topic choice, date of publication, and evaluating POEMs.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Patient reported pain level, as measured by visual analog scale (VAS) score.

RESULTS: …

Is Daily Supplementation With Omega-3 Fatty Acids Effective In Reducing The Severity Of Dry Eye Syndrome In Adult Patients?, Julie A. Laureni

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not daily supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids is effective in reducing the severity of dry eyes in adult patients with dry eyes syndrome (DES).

Methods: Three randomized controlled trials are included in this review that were published in 2013, 2016 and 2017.

Data sources: The author of this paper performed the research as well as selected the articles for review by conducting searches on PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library.

Outcomes: The outcome measured is the severity of dry eyes symptoms measured subjectively by each patient through a …

Can A Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation Program Have A Positive Impact On The Quality Of Life Of Adults With Multiple Sclerosis (Ms)?, Megan Leise

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not virtual reality based rehabilitation programs have a positive impact on the quality of life of people with MS.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of 2 randomized control trials (RCTs) and one randomized control cross over pilot study written in English, two of which were published in 2013 and one in 2016.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized control trials (RCTs) and one randomized control cross over pilot study, all three non-blind, published in peer-reviewed journals found via PubMed.

OUTCOME MEASURED: Quality of life was measured via Falls Efficacy Scale- International, …

What Are The Effects Of Curcumin, Whether Alone Or In Conjunction With Alternative Therapy, On Major Depressive Disorder?, Preeti Jain

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not curcumin, whether alone or in conjunction with alternative therapy, has an effect on Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

Study Design: Systematic review of 3 primary studies, published between 2013 and 2016.

Data Sources: Three randomized control trials (RCT), two of which were double blind. These studies were found using Cochrane Systematic Reviews and PubMed.

Outcomes Measured: Outcome for all three articles are symptomatic changes of MDD. The outcomes measured were Patient-Oriented Evidence that Matters (POEMS) and were assessed using various self-rated tools.

Results: All three studies demonstrated …

Does Photodynamic Therapy Improve The Survival Rate Of Patients With Unresectable Cholangiocarcinoma?, Tyler C. Hafer

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not photodynamic therapy improves the survival rate of patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma.

Study Design: Systematic review of two randomized controlled trials and one retrospective cohort study published in 2014, 2014, and 2016.

Data Sources: Two randomized controlled trials and one retrospective cohort study examining photodynamic therapy in patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma.

Data sources were found using PubMed and EBSCOhost.

Outcome(s) Measured: Overall survival and progression free survival were measured in patients who underwent photodynamic therapy for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma. Each study analyzed overall survival using a Kaplan-Meier survival …

Is Topical Eflornithine An Effective Adjunctive Therapy In Reducing Unwanted Facial Hair In Women Diagnosed With Hirsutism?, Jasmine Jordan

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not topical eflornithine is an effective adjunctive therapy in reducing unwanted facial hair in women diagnosed with hirsutism.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from peer reviewed journals, published in 2006, 2007 and 2016.

DATA SOURCES: The studies analyze the effectiveness of eflornithine in women with hirsutism and were found using PubMed, Embase and Medline.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Reduction of unwanted facial hair was measured through hair counts done at 0, 1, 3 and 6 months, Physician Global Assessment which considered hair length, density …