Respiratory Tract Diseases Commons^™

Is The Addition Of Vitamin D In Treatment For Asthma Effective In Children Less Than 18 Years Old?, Danielle M. Read

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the addition of vitamin D in treatment for asthma is effective in children less than 18 years old.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language, randomized, controlled, double blind studies after 1999.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized, controlled double blind studies comparing the addition of vitamin D with an inhaled corticosteroid in treatment of asthma with a control group of inhaled corticosteroid alone. All articles were found in PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each study assessed the number of asthma exacerbations or symptoms in the control group and in the …

Does Nebulized Hypertonic Saline Solution Decrease Hospital Admission Rates When Compared To Nebulized Normal Saline In Children Less Than Or Equal To 24 Months Old With Bronchiolitis?, Korie Alecxih

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not nebulized hypertonic saline solution reduces hospital admission rates when compared to nebulized normal saline solution in children less than or equal to 24 months of age diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis in the emergency department setting.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trials in the English language all published in 2014.

DATA SOURCES: Data sources obtained for this review were articles published in peerreviewed journals found using PubMed Database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome measured was hospital admission rate. Hospital admission rate is calculated …

Is Stimulating Acupoints On The Skin In Addition To Standard Medication More Effective For The Improvement Of Breathlessness In Ambulatory Patients With Copd Over The Age Of 60 Than Standard Medication Alone?, Abigail D. Sbat

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not stimulating acupoints on the skin in addition to standard medication is more effective for the improvement of breathlessness in ambulatory patients with COPD over the age of 60 than standard medication alone.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized controlled trials published in 2008, 2010, and 2012; selection was based on their relevance to the clinical question and if they contained patient oriented outcomes.

DATA SOURCES: Three peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials comparing the addition of acupuncture/Acu-Tens to standard treatment and standard treatment alone were found on PubMed. …

Are Probiotics Effective At Reducing The Symptoms Of Asthma In Children From Birth To Twelve-Years Old?, Rachel Sulat

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not probiotics are effective at reducing the symptoms of asthma in children ages birth to twelve-years old.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English-language, double-blinded randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 2010 and 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Three peer-reviewed RCTs were found using PubMed database. These studies compared probiotics to placebos in patients with episodes of wheezing.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Reduction in symptoms of asthma (particularly wheezing) measured with the use of diary cards and symptom scores.

RESULTS: Chen et al. demonstrated statistically significant improvement in daytime asthma symptoms in probiotic treated …

Is Ramelteon Effective In Improving Sleep Quality In Adult Patients With Mild To Moderate Obstructive Breathing Disorders?, Alison L. Fife

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not ramelteon is effective in improving sleep quality in adult patients with mild to moderate obstructive breathing disorders.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English studies published from 2007 to 2010; two randomized controlled studies and one randomized crossover study.

DATA SOURCES: The double blind randomized placebo controlled crossover trial, randomized double blind placebo controlled two way crossover study and double blind placebo controlled randomized controlled trial were found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each of the studies measured the sleep quality in patients with …

Is Oral Dexamethasone Safe And Effective For Treating Asthma Exacerbations In Pediatric Patients?, Benhamin J. Kunze

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence based medicine review is to determine whether or not a one or two dose regimen of dexamethasone (DEX) is a safe and effective treatment for asthma exacerbations in the pediatric population.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language, primary randomized controlled trials (RCT) published from 2001-2008.

DATA SOURCES: Three RCTs examining the efficacy of DEX either in a single dose or one dose for two days, compared to a traditional five day regimen of prednisone (PRED).

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The studies examined the number of relapses within 10 days of …

Does The Use Of Fascial Manipulative Therapy Help To Improve Overall Asthma Quality Of Life By Descreasing Asthma Symptoms?, Christie Mecouch

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the use of fascial manipulative therapy helps to improve overall asthma quality of life by decreasing asthma symptoms.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one case study, published between 2005-current, all in the English language.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one case study, all of which evaluate the effectiveness of fascial manipulative therapy as it pertains to asthma quality of life. All studies were found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured were an improvement …

Does Sildenafil Improve Physical Function In Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?, Tyler R. Mellinger

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not sildenafil improves physical function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of 3 primary research studies published in the English language between 2007 and 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trials, and one open label study analyzing the effect of sildenafil on patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were found using PubMed.

OUTCOME MEASURED: The primary tool used to assess physical function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, when treated with sildenafil, was a 6-minute walk distance. …

Is Aztreonam Lysine For Inhalation Effective In The Treatment Of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis And Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Airway Infection?, Christine Shevchenko

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not aztreonam lysine for inhalation is effective in the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway infection.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trials published in 2008, 2009, and 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies using Cochrane and Pubmed databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Patient oriented outcomes measured included change in respiratory symptoms measured by the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised and need for additional anti-pseudomonal antibiotics indicative of pulmonary exacerbation.

RESULTS: In both cystic fibrosis (CF) …

Does Tadalafil Improve Exercise Capacitance In Patients Over 12 Years Old With Pulmonary Hypertension?, Erin Chesnavich

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not the oral Phosphodiesterase inhibitor Tadalafil improves exercise capacitance in those over 12 years with pulmonary hypertension.

Study Design: Review of three primary research materials published in English language in 2009. Data Sources: Randomized, controlled, double blind clinical trials found using PubMed, OVID and COCHRANE databases.

Outcome measured: Trials measured 6-minute walking distance and health related quality of life measurements which included: SF-36 (a measure of self reported health status), and the EQ-5D (a patient reported health related quality of life measure), WHO functional class, clinical worsening, and …

Is Afrin (Oxymetazoline) A Safe And Effective Drug In Normal, Healthy Adults With Reference To Nasal Congestion And The Nasal Response?, Allie Rubinstein

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not, “Is Afrin (Oxymetazoline) a safe and effective drug in normal, healthy adults with reference to nasal congestion and the nasal response?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published in 1997, 1999, 2003.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized, controlled studies (double-blind, placebo-controlled) testing the efficacy and safeness of Afrin in comparison to a placebo group, were found using the PubMed database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Nasal patency, congestion, degree of nasal blockage, and symptoms (quantity, consistency, color of nasal secretions, turbinate size/color) were measured through patient diary card …

Is Sildenafil Citrate A Safe And Effective Treatment For Pulmonary Hypertension In Adults?, Atekelt Tadese

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether or not the Phosphodiesterase inhibitors drug Sildenafil Citrate is safe and effective treatment for Pulmonary Hypertension in adults

Is Acupuncture An Effective Adjunctive Treatment For Chronic Asthma In Adults?, Armand Delrosario

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether acupuncture is an effective adjunctive treatment for chronic asthma in adults.