title: The role and limitations of Cochrane reviews at the bedside: a systematic synopsis of five pediatric subspecialties.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cochrane meta-analyses provide the physician at the bedside with the most relevant, up-to-date clinical information. However, implementation of evidence-based medicine (EBM) at the bedside may be difficult for a variety of reasons. The aim of this study was to assess relevant issues and obstacles related to implementing EBM in pediatrics in real life at the bedside/cotside.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed five systematic literature reviews of all published Cochrane reviews in neonatology (1996-2010), pediatric neurology (1996-2010), pediatric gastroenterology (1993-2012), pediatric cardiology (2001-2015), and complementary and alternative medicine (1996-2012; CAM) in children and neonates. In all five analyses, the main outcome variables were percentage of reviews concluding that a certain intervention provides a benefit, percentage of reviews concluding that a certain intervention should not be performed, and percentage of studies concluding that the current level of evidence is inconclusive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all five areas of pediatrics, a substantial number of Cochrane reviews yielded inconclusive data (neonatology: 46.6%; neuropediatrics: 26.8%; pediatric gastroenterology: 27.9%; pediatric cardiology: 42.9%; complementary and alternative medicine: 66.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our up-dated systematic synopsis reiterates the need for high-quality, sophisticated research to reduce the number of inconclusive meta-analyses in the field of pediatrics-most importantly in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), neonatology, and pediatric cardiology. The realization of high-quality, clinically driven research will in turn yield more systematic reviews with a clear conclusion (e. g., in favor or against a certain intervention, or treatment modality), thus, substantively decreasing the proportion of inconclusive reviews.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Medical School, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany. sascha.meyer@uks.eu.
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical School, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poryo
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khosrawikatoli
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Medical School, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zemlin
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine; D010372:Pediatrics; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
keywords: Complementary and alternative medicine; Evidence-based medicine; Neonatology; Neuropediatrics; Pediatric cardiology; Pediatric gastroenterology