Table 3. Findings from systematic reviews.
| First author, year | Health area specified | Type(s) of interventions | Findings | Meta-analysis results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table 3a. Findings from systematic reviews on asthma interventions | ||||
| Geryk, 2017 [31] | Asthma | Education | Improved inhaler technique | n/a |
| Walter, 2016 [37] | Asthma | Education | Improved daytime and nighttime symptoms; physical activity intolerance; emergency hospital visits; and missed school or work days | n/a |
| Table 3b. Findings from systematic reviews on menstrual management interventions | ||||
| Hennegan, 2016 [22] | Menstruation | Education, provision of sanitary products | Sanitary pad provision: moderate yet statistically insignificant effect on school attendance; overall trends toward improvements in menstruation knowledge, management practices, psychosocial outcomes, and school attendance | School attendance: SMD = 0.49, 95% CI = [-0.13, 1.11], p = 0.12 |
| Table 3c. Findings from systematic reviews on mental health interventions | ||||
| Bastounis, 2016 [19] | Depression and anxiety | Education, prevention | Depression: non-significant, in favor of PRP program; Anxiety: non-significant, in favor of control |
Depression: MD = -0.23, 95% CI = [-1.09, 0.62] Anxiety: SMD = 0.13 95% CI = [0.00, 0.26] |
| Brendel, 2014 [29] | Well-being | Counseling | No statistically significant change | n/a |
| Gold, 2006 [23] | Autism | Therapy (music) | Small yet statistically significant effect sizes in favor of music therapy | Gestural communication: SMD = 0.50, 95% CI = [0.22, 0.79]* Verbal communication: SMD = 0.36, 95% CI = [0.15, 0.57]* Behavioral problems: S* |
| Higgins, 2015 [32] | Anxiety | Prevention | Statistically significant improvement in self-reported anxiety | n/a |
| Kavanagh, 2009 [24,39] | Depression and anxiety | Counseling | Statistically significant reductions of depressive symptoms up to four weeks and three months follow-up | 4 weeks: SMD = -0.16, 95% CI = [-0.26, -0.05]; Equivalent to reduction in 1.44 points on BDI* 3 months: SMD = -0.21, 95% CI = [-0.35, -0.07]; equivalent to reduction in 1.9 points on BDI* |
| McDonald, 2018 [33] | Various | Therapy (art) | Improvements in outcomes on classroom behavior, ODD, and SAD | n/a |
| Neil, 2009 [34] | Anxiety | Prevention | Statistically significant reductions in anxiety symptoms at post-test and/or follow-up in 21 out of 27 primary trials | n/a |
| Sullivan, 2016 [36] | Trauma | Therapy | Improvements in trauma-related symptoms and impairment; negative effects for music therapy | n/a |
| Werner-Seidler, 2017 [28] | Depression and anxiety | Prevention, therapy | Small yet statistically significant effect sizes in favor of the intervention for both depression and anxiety | Depression: Hedges g = 0.23, 95% CI = [0.19, 0.28]* Anxiety: Hedges g = 0.20, 95% CI = [0.14, 0.25]* |
| Table 3d. Findings from systematic reviews on obesity interventions | ||||
| Schroeder, 2016 [26] | Obesity prevention and treatment | Education, counseling, prevention | Small but statistically significant reductions in all three BMI outcomes | BMI, attenuated due to high heterogeneity: SMD = -0.06, 95% CI = [-0.17, -0.01]* BMIz score: SMD = -0.10, 95% CI = [-0.15, -0.05]* BMI percentile: SMD = -0.41, 95% CI = [-0.60, -0.21]* |
| Table 3e. Findings from systematic reviews on oral health interventions | ||||
| Arora, 2017 [18] | Oral health and dental care attendance | Screening, referrals | Insufficient evidence for conclusions on oral health outcomes or dental attendance | n/a |
| Cooper, 2013 [30] | Caries | Education, prevention | Insufficient evidence for conclusions on caries increment or plaque accumulation | n/a |
| Marinho, 2015 [25] | Caries | Prevention | Decrease in caries increment | PF = 0.28, 95% CI = [0.19, 0.36], p < 0.0001* |
| Stein, 2017 [27] | Caries and oral hygiene | Education | Decrease in mean plaque levels; improved oral hygiene; no change in gingivitis | Mean plaque levels: MD = -0.36 95% CI = [-0.59, -0.13], p = 0.004* Oral hygiene: MD = -0.42, 95% CI = [-0.69, -0.15], p = 0.002* Gingivitis: MD = -0.07, 95% CI = [-0.32, 0.19], p = 0.61 |
| Table 3f. Findings from systematic reviews on sexual and reproductive health interventions | ||||
| Paul-Ebhohimhen, 2008 [35] | STIs and HIV | Education | Increased knowledge and attitudes; ineffective in changing risky behaviors | n/a |
| Table 3g. Findings from systematic reviews on sleep interventions | ||||
| Chung, 2017 [20] | Sleep | Education | Statistically significant short-term benefits for all three outcomes | Weekday sleep time: SMD = 0.23, 95% CI = [0.17, 0.29], p = 0.0001* Weekend sleep time: SMD = 0.46, 95% CI = [0.04, 0.86], p = 0.03* Mood: SMD = 0.81, 95% CI = [0.17, 1.47], p = 0.01* |
| Table 3h. Findings from systematic reviews on vision interventions | ||||
| Evans, 2018 [21] | Visual acuity | Education, screening, spectacles provision | Statistically significant increase in spectacles wear; no difference between provision of ready-made vs. custom-made spectacles; no comparison of vision screening vs. no vision screening | Free spectacles vs. prescription: RR = 1.6, 95% CI = [1.34, 1.90], p <0.00001* Ready-made vs. custom-made: RR = 0.98, 95% CI = [0.91, 1.05], p = 0.51 |
n/a = no meta-analysis performed; MD = mean difference; SMD = standardized mean difference; PF = prevented fraction; RR = risk ratio; BDI = Beck Depression Inventory; ODD = Oppositional Defiant Disorder; SAD = Separation Anxiety Disorder; BMI = body mass index; PRP = Penn Resiliency Program; HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; STI = sexually transmitted infection
* = statistically significant result; CI = 95% confidence interval; p = p-value