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Outcome domains and outcome measures used in studies assessing the effectiveness of interventions to manage non-respiratory sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities: a systematic review

McDaid C, Parker A, Scantlebury A, Fairhurst C, Dawson V, Elphick H, Hewitt C, Spiers G et al.

BMJ open, 2019

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether a core outcome set is required for studies evaluating the effectiveness of interventions for non-respiratory sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities.

DESIGN: Survey of outcome measures used in primary studies identified by a systematic review.

DATA SOURCES: ASSIA, CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Conference Proceedings Citation Index, CINAHL, DARE, Embase, HMIC, MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, PsycINFO, Science Citation Index, Social Care Online, Social Policy & Practice, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and the UK Clinical Trials Gateway were searched up to February 2017.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies evaluating pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions for children (≤18 years old) with a neurodisability and experiencing non-respiratory sleep disturbance.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Outcome measures were listed from each study and categorised into domains.

RESULTS: Thirty-nine studies assessed five core outcome areas: child sleep, other child outcomes, parent outcomes, adverse events and process measures. There were 54 different measures of child sleep across five domains: global measures; sleep initiation; maintenance; scheduling; and other outcomes. Fifteen non-pharmacological (58%) and four pharmacological studies (31%) reported child outcomes other than sleep using 29 different measures.One pharmacological and 14 non-pharmacological (54%) studies reported…

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