Research Appraisals
Evidence-based critical appraisals of the latest medical research, systematically evaluated using Oxford CEBM methodology.
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European journal of pediatrics
Health-related quality of life and associated factors in children with bronchiectasis: A systematic review
UNLABELLED: This systematic review aimed to summarize the current evidence on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its associated factors in children with bronchiectasis. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, CENTRAL, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and CBM published from inception to October 2025. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using standardized tools. Descriptive synthesis was performed. Nine studies were included, with overall moderate to high quality. HRQoL scores in children with bronchiectasis were significantly lower than those in healthy controls across most scales, though findings varied across physical and psychosocial domains. Parent-proxy scores were generally lower than child self-reports. Lower HRQoL was associated with impaired lung function, frequent exacerbations, higher symptom burden, and anxiety/depression. CONCLUSION: HRQoL is substantially impaired in children with bronchiectasis. Routine assessment of HRQoL and integrated interventions addressing both physical and psychosocial aspects are warranted in clinical practice. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease that causes coughing and breathing difficulties in children. • Previous studies have reported inconsistent findings on quality of life in children with bronchiectasis. WHAT IS NEW: • This systematic review consolidates evidence from nine studies, confirming that children with bronchiectasis have significantly lower quality of life than healthy children. • Poor lung function, frequent exacerbations, and anxiety/depression are key determinants; parents tend to rate their child's quality of life lower than the children themselves, underscoring the need for integrated care including psychological support.
31 July 2026
Read appraisal →Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
Psychosocial interventions for families with minor children affected by parental cancer: An umbrella review
PURPOSE: Research on psychosocial interventions for families with minor children affected by parental cancer has expanded over recent decades; however, the evidence remains fragmented across multiple systematic reviews. This umbrella review aims to gather and synthesize the existing systematic reviews, with a particular focus on intervention characteristics, implementation, effectiveness, methodological limitations, and implications for future research and clinical practice. METHODS: A comprehensive search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, Epistemonikos, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was conducted in September 2025, including gray literature. Eligible reviews were published between 1990 and 2025 in English, Portuguese, or Spanish and had full-text availability. Methodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR-2. The review was registered in PROSPERO (ID 1139397). RESULTS: Eight systematic reviews met inclusion criteria and were synthesized narratively due to substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity. Across these reviews, 46 distinct psychosocial interventions were identified. Overall, interventions were associated with preliminary beneficial outcomes for children, adolescents, parents, and families, particularly in improving children's understanding of parental illness, enhancing family communication and functioning, strengthening parenting skills, and promoting psychological well-being. However, confidence in these findings was limited by the generally low methodological quality of the included reviews and the high overlap of primary studies. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggests that psychosocial interventions may support families with minor children affected by parental cancer, but conclusions remain tentative due to methodological limitations. There is a clear need for the development and rigorous evaluation of developmentally and disease-stage-sensitive interventions, supported by high-quality research and institutional collaboration. Strengthening the evidence base in this area is essential to inform clinical practice, guide supportive care services, and support policy development in psycho-oncology.
13 July 2026
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