Skip to main content

Table 1 Characteristics of included systematic reviews

From: Closing the loop on test results to reduce communication failures: a rapid review of evidence, practice and patient perspectives

First author /

Date of most recent search

Review focus

Population

Setting

Number of included studies

Intervention of focus

Outcome measured

Author’s conclusions

Quality appraisal

Al Deeb / Jan 2012

Point of Care Ultrasound (POC-US) in diagnosing acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE)

Patients with undifferentiated ACPE

ED and Primary care

7

Bedside ultrasound with B-lines

Diagnosis

In moderate to high pretest probability for ACPE, B-lines can be used to strengthen an emergency physician’s working diagnosis of ACPE. In low pretest probability for ACPE, a negative ultrasound study can almost exclude the possibility of ACPE.

12/16

Asha / July 2014

Diagnostic accuracy of D-dimer as a rule-out test for acute aortic dissection

Patients with suspected acute aortic dissection

ED and coronary care unit

5

Bedside d-dimer test

Diagnosis

Useful for risk stratification, a negative result useful to rule out in low-risk patients but cannot add to certainty of diagnosis.

11/16

Benabbas / Oct 2016

POC-US for diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Patients under 21 with abdominal pain

ED

21

Bedside ultrasound

Diagnosis

With appropriate expertise, bedside ultrasound can replace radiology department ultrasound for acute appendicitis but negative result inadequate to rule out.

11/16

Chartier / July 2015

POC-US for diagnosis of long bone fractures

Patients with suspected or known bone fracture

ED

30

Bedside ultrasound

Diagnosis

Good test results for diagnosis and reduction of long bone fractures.

10/16

Darragh / Nov 2016

Follow-up of laboratory test results pending at discharge

Inpatients or ED attendees who had one or more pending test results

Inpatient and ED

9

Improvement of test result follow-up pending at discharge

Patient mortality, morbidity, or impact on the process of healthcare delivery

Enhanced discharge summary templates, educational interventions for discharging physicians, and email alerts are promising strategies to improve the follow-up of finalised test results upon discharge.

5/13

Fields / May 2015

POC-US for diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Patients with suspected acute appendicitis

ED, acute care and surgery

21

Bedside ultrasound

Diagnosis

An appropriate imaging modality for diagnosing appendicitis, but premature to use as a stand-alone test.

12/16

Hasselberg / Jun 2012

Image-based telemedicine for medical expert consultation in acute care of injuries

Acute stage of injury/trauma

ED

24

Image-based telemedicine

Diagnostic validity, management, clinical outcomes, user satisfaction

Support for valid diagnosis and positive influence on patient management

7/13

Joshi / 2012

POC-US for diagnosis of extremity fractures

Patients with suspected fracture to extremities

ED

8

Bedside ultrasound

Diagnosis

Sufficiently accurate diagnostic test to rule in or out extremity fractures when ultrasound is preferred option but not to replace radiology where appropriate.

7/13

Meyer / Feb 2010

To summarize telepathology implementation challenges

Health professionals and caregivers

All care settings

0

Email communication of test results to patients

Patient understanding and action

No conclusions can be drawn due to lack of evidence.

7/7

Rubano / Nov 2011

POC-US for diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Adult patients with suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm

ED

7

Bedside ultrasound

Diagnosis

Good diagnostic performance. Bedside ultrasound can be used to rule in or rule out the need for emergent CT and/or vascular surgery consultation.

11/16

Vrablik / Aug 2012

POC-US for diagnosis of retinal detachment

Patients with acute ocular complaints

Acute care

3

Bedside ultrasound

Diagnosis

Bedside ocular ultrasound has a high degree of accuracy in identifying retinal detachment.

7/16

Whitehead / 2017

Follow-up of laboratory test results pending at discharge

Inpatients or ED attendees who had one or more pending test results

Inpatient and ED

17

Practices that explicitly aimed to improve the documentation, communication, or follow-up of test results

Documentation completeness, physician awareness of pending tests, or follow-up

Individual education for preparers of discharge summaries improved the quality of discharge summary documentation of pending test results. There was suggestive evidence that aids, such as checklists and templates, were found to increase the completeness of documentation. Automated email notifications may increase awareness of pending test results.

4/13