Gap finder

Search review questions

Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

729 questions in 45 reviews · Consumers and Communication

current versions
No studies 188 · 25.8%Ungraded 93 · 12.8%Very low 155 · 21.3%Low 189 · 25.9%Moderate 90 · 12.3%High 14 · 1.9%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Information or education intervention as part of a complex intervention vs complex intervention without information or education
Severity of anxiety in patients HADS‐A (at hospital discharge or at 28 days, whichever time point was soonest); scale from 0 to 20 Lower scores indicate less anxiety. · adult ICU patients and their carers
Information or education interventions for adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their carers (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 38 participantsVery low
Information or education intervention as part of a complex intervention vs complex intervention without information or education
Severity of depression in patients HADS‐D (at hospital discharge or 28 days, whichever time point was soonest); scale from 0 to 20 Lower scores indicate less depression. · adult ICU patients and their carers
Information or education interventions for adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their carers (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 38 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: immunisation rate ATCS Plus, IVR, unidirectional versus no calls, letters, usual care at median · participants at risk of under‐immunisation (children, adolescents and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.25 [1.18, 1.32]5 studies · 10454 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Clinical outcome: body weight measures Multimodal/complex interventiond ATCS Plus versus usual care or control · participants at risk of developing long‐term conditions
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 373 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Adverse outcome: unintended adverse events attributable to the intervention Multimodal/complex intervention, ATCS Plus, IVR versus various controls · participants at risk of developing long‐term conditions
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: breast cancer screening Multimodal/complex intervention versus usual care at 12 months · participants at risk for breast, colorectal or cervical cancer; or osteoporosis
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
RR 2.17 [1.55, 3.04]2 studies · 462 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: breast cancer screening IVR versus enhanced usual care at median · participants at risk for breast, colorectal or cervical cancer; or osteoporosis
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.05 [0.99, 1.11]2 studies · 2599 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: colorectal cancer screening Multimodal/complex intervention versus usual care at median · participants at risk for breast, colorectal or cervical cancer; or osteoporosis
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
RR 2.19 [1.88, 2.55]3 studies · 1013 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: colorectal cancer screening IVR versus usual care at 6‐month · participants at risk for breast, colorectal or cervical cancer; or osteoporosis
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.36 [1.25, 1.48]2 studies · 16915 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: colorectal cancer screening IVR, unidirectional ATCS versus usual care or letter at longer (9‐12 months) · participants at risk for breast, colorectal or cervical cancer; or osteoporosis
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.01 [0.97, 1.05]2 studies · 21335 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: cervical cancer screening ATCS Plus versus control (no calls) at 3 month · participants at risk for breast, colorectal or cervical cancer; or osteoporosis
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 75532 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Adverse outcome: unintended adverse events attributable to the intervention Multimodal/complex intervention, ATCS Plus, IVR, unidirectional versus various controls · participants at risk for breast, colorectal or cervical cancer; or osteoporosis
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Clinical and behavioural outcome: BMI score in adults Multimodal/complex intervention, ATCS Plus or IVR versus usual care at median · overweight or obese individuals (both children and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 672 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: immunisation rate Unidirectional ATCS versus usual care at median · participants at risk of under‐immunisation (children, adolescents and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.06 [1.02, 1.11]2 studies · 5725 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Clinical and behavioural outcome: body weight in adults, 12 weeks · overweight or obese individuals (both children and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Clinical and behavioural outcome: body weight in adults, at median · overweight or obese individuals (both children and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Clinical and behavioural outcome: blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol levels · overweight or obese individuals (both children and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Clinical outcome: BMI z‐score in children at median · overweight or obese individuals (both children and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRModerate
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: physical activity, dietary habits in children at median · overweight or obese individuals (both children and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRModerate
Intervention NR
Adverse outcome: unintended adverse events attributable to the intervention IVR versus usual care · overweight or obese individuals (both children and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 559 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Health behaviour: attendance rates, 6 weeks ATCS Plus versus nurse‐delivered calls · patients/healthcare consumers
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 3610 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Health behaviour: attendance rates, 4 months IVR versus no calls · patients/healthcare consumers
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 12092 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Health behaviour: return tuberculin test rate, 3 days Unidirectional ATCS versus no calls · patients/healthcare consumers
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 701 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Health behaviour: attendance rates, 1 month Unidirectional ATCS versus no calls · patients/healthcare consumers
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 517 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: immunisation rate Unidirectional ATCS versus no calls or health information at median · participants at risk of under‐immunisation (children, adolescents and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
RR 2.18 [0.53, 9.02]2 studies · 1743 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Health behaviour: attendance rates, 6‐8 weeks Unidirectional ATCS versus no calls · patients/healthcare consumers
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 3304 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Health behaviour: attendance rates, 6 months Unidirectional ATCS versus no calls · patients/healthcare consumers
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 2008 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Adverse outcome: unintended adverse events attributable to the intervention ATCS Plus, IVR, unidirectional ATCS versus various controls · patients/healthcare consumers
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: adherence to medication Multimodal/complex interventionsb versus usual care or control · patients with various conditions or at risk of low adherence to medication or laboratory tests
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 888 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: adherence to medication ATCS Plus versus control or single IVR call · patients with various conditions or at risk of low adherence to medication or laboratory tests
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 2340 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: adherence to laboratory tests ATCS Plus or IVR versus no intervention or usual care · patients with various conditions or at risk of low adherence to medication or laboratory tests
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 15218 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: adherence to medication or composite outcome (medication adherence and rate of adverse events) ATCS Plus versus usual care · patients with various conditions or at risk of low adherence to medication or laboratory tests
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 35816 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: adherence to medication or laboratory tests IVR versus control · patients with various conditions or at risk of low adherence to medication or laboratory tests
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 4238362 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: adherence to medication IVR versus usual care · patients with various conditions or at risk of low adherence to medication or laboratory tests
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 56140 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: adherence to medication Unidirectional ATCS versus control · patients with various conditions or at risk of low adherence to medication or laboratory tests
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 107 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Adverse outcome: unintended adverse events attributable to the intervention ATCS+, IVR, unidirectional versus various controls · participants at risk of under‐immunisation (children, adolescents and adults)
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Clinical outcome: blood pressure Multimodal/complex, ATCS Plus, IVR versus usual care · patients with various conditions or at risk of low adherence to medication or laboratory tests
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 22597 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Adverse outcome: unintended adverse events attributable to the intervention Multimodal/complex intervention, ATCS Plus, IVR, unidirectional versus various controls · patients with various conditions or at risk of low adherence to medication or laboratory tests
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcomes: number of drinks per drinking day ATCS Plus, IVR versus usual care, (various) controls at median · participants addicted to alcohol
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 459 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcomes: drinking days, heavy drinking days, or total number of drinks consumed ATCS Plus, IVR versus (various) controls · participants addicted to alcohol
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 217 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcomes: proportion of days abstinent, other alcohol consumption indices, 12 weeks ATCS Plus versus control (packaged CBT) · participants addicted to alcohol
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 110 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcomes: weekly alcohol consumption, 6 months ATCS Plus versus usual care · participants addicted to alcohol
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 338 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcomes: AUDIT score, 6 weeks IVR versus control (no intervention) · participants addicted to alcohol
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 1423 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcomes: other alcohol consumption indices, 4 weeks IVR versus control (no intervention) · participants addicted to alcohol
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 98 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Adverse outcome: unintended adverse events attributable to the intervention ATCS Plus, IVR versus various controls · participants addicted to alcohol
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Clinical outcomes: symptoms (severity or burden) ATCS Plus versus usual care (via ATCS) or control, 4‐12 weeks · cancer patients
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 701 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Behavioural outcome: physical activity Multimodal/complex interventionb versus no calls · participants at risk of developing long‐term conditions
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 181 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Clinical outcomes: symptom severity, 10 weeks IVR versus nurse delivered calls · cancer patients
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 437 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Clinical outcomes: pain Multimodal/complex interventiong versus usual care · cancer patients
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 405 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Clinical outcomes: depression Multimodal/complex interventiong versus usual care · cancer patients
Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long‐term conditions (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 405 participantsModerate