Systematic ReviewResearchPatient EducationQuality Improvement

Meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials finds sensorimotor training improves neuropathy symptoms, balance, and quality of life in adults with cancer

Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing (PubMed)Sep 21, 2026

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Brief summary

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials found sensorimotor training significantly improved patient-reported neuropathy symptoms, balance function, lower-limb strength, and quality of life in adults receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy.

What NurseJet pulled from the source

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating adverse effect of neurotoxic antineoplastic agents that frequently impairs postural stability and increases fall risk. In a PRISMA-guided systematic review and meta-analysis registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024615574), investigators searched 11 databases and two clinical trial registries through March 2026. Across 11 randomized controlled trials enrolling 548 adult cancer patients (seven studies providing quantitative meta-analytic data), sensorimotor training (SMT) was associated with significant improvements in patient-reported CIPN symptoms (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.18-0.89) and clinician-rated neuropathy scores (SMD = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.08-0.92). SMT also produced notable improvements in balance performance (SMD = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.43-1.15), lower-extremity strength (SMD = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.30-1.04), and overall quality of life (SMD = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.34-0.94). Subgroup analysis found no significant difference between standalone SMT and multimodal exercise programs.

Why this matters for nurses

Oncology nurses frequently assess patients for sensory loss, numbness, and tingling during neurotoxic chemotherapy regimens. Because pharmacologic options for CIPN treatment remain limited, non-pharmacologic sensorimotor exercises that retrain proprioception and balance offer an actionable strategy to alleviate symptom distress, prevent falls, and preserve functional independence.

Bedside takeaway

A meta-analysis of 11 RCTs (548 adults with cancer) found sensorimotor training significantly improved neuropathy symptoms (SMD 0.54), balance function (SMD 0.79), and quality of life (SMD 0.64), though overall evidence certainty remains low.

Key takeaways

Meta-analysis synthesized 11 randomized controlled trials comprising 548 adult cancer patients undergoing neurotoxic chemotherapy.
Sensorimotor training was associated with significant reductions in patient-reported (SMD 0.54) and clinician-graded (SMD 0.50) neuropathy symptoms.
Interventions yielded substantial functional gains in postural balance (SMD 0.79) and lower-extremity muscle strength (SMD 0.67).
Overall evidence certainty was evaluated as low per GRADE criteria due to small sample sizes, study heterogeneity, and risk of bias.

Practice implications

Screen patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy for numbness, paresthesias, and unsteady gait; provide early fall prevention education and collaborate with oncology physical therapy to initiate guided sensorimotor and balance exercises per facility care pathways.

Limitations & cautions

Low certainty of evidence across outcomes per GRADE; small sample sizes across primary studies; heterogeneous training protocols and variable chemotherapy regimens precluded definitive dosing recommendations.
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Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing (PubMed)

Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing (PubMed). Effects of sensorimotor training on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy-related outcomes in adults with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42904163/

Professional education only

This summary does not replace clinical judgment, facility policy, provider orders, or official guidelines. Verify practice changes against the original source and local protocol.

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Obstetrics and gynecology (PubMed)Oct 20, 2026Systematic Review

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials encompassing 1,874 pregnant individuals found mifepristone for labor induction at term was associated with a 33% reduction in the odds of cesarean delivery compared to control methods.

L&D / OB Med-SurgAI summaryReview source

Systematic ReviewResearchMedication SafetyQuality ImprovementAI summary · original source linked below

Cervical ripening is often the longest and most unpredictable phase of labor induction, prompting investigation of oral progesterone receptor antagonists. Investigators conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis conforming to PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251236886), searching MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov through October 2025. Across 15 eligible randomized controlled trials evaluating mifepristone for labor induction in singleton pregnancies at 37 weeks or greater (1,063 receiving mifepristone and 811 control participants), mifepristone was associated with significantly reduced odds of cesarean delivery (33.1% vs 41.9%; odds ratio [OR] 0.67; 95% CI, 0.54-0.82). Sensitivity analyses restricted to placebo-controlled, high-quality trials demonstrated a consistent protective effect (OR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40-0.83). Mifepristone also improved 24-hour Bishop scores, shortened induction-to-delivery time, and decreased requirements for supplemental oxytocin and prostaglandins, without observed increases in postpartum hemorrhage or NICU admissions.

Key takeaways

Systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized 15 randomized controlled trials comprising 1,874 term singleton pregnancies.
Mifepristone was associated with a 33% reduction in the odds of cesarean delivery compared with control induction methods (33.1% vs 41.9%, OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54-0.82).
In high-quality placebo-controlled trials, the odds of cesarean delivery remained significantly lower (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.83).
Treated patients demonstrated higher 24-hour Bishop scores, shorter induction-to-delivery intervals, and lower oxytocin utilization.

Why this matters on shift

Labor and delivery nurses are essential in monitoring cervical ripening, administering induction pharmacotherapy, and managing prolonged labor. Understanding the physiologic mechanisms and clinical outcomes of progesterone receptor blockade helps perinatal nurses anticipate cervical changes, titrate subsequent oxytocin infusions safely, and support shared decision-making during term inductions.

Bedside takeaway

In a meta-analysis of 15 RCTs (1,874 women), mifepristone for labor induction at >=37 weeks was associated with a 33% reduction in cesarean delivery odds (33.1% vs 41.9%, OR 0.67), higher 24-hour Bishop scores, and lower oxytocin use.

Nursing implications

Review physician orders and institutional induction protocols when administering ripening agents, perform serial Bishop scoring, maintain continuous fetal heart rate monitoring during active labor, and monitor for uterine tachysystole when combining ripening agents with oxytocin.

Limitations & cautions

Variable mifepristone dosing regimens across trials; secondary safety endpoints such as postpartum hemorrhage and NICU admission were inconsistently reported across primary studies.
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Citations · exact source links

Obstetrics and gynecology (PubMed). Progesterone Receptor Antagonists for Labor Induction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

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Critical care medicine (PubMed)Oct 15, 2026Research Article

A multicenter randomized controlled trial of 87 critically ill adults found no significant differences in 24-hour weaning success (94% vs 81% vs 77%) or duration between flow-reduction-first, FiO2-reduction-first, or simultaneous HFNC weaning.

ICU Med-SurgAI summaryReview source

Research ArticleResearchQuality ImprovementWorkflowAI summary · original source linked below

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is standard supportive therapy for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, yet clinical teams lack consensus on the optimal stepwise de-escalation sequence. The multicenter, randomized controlled SLOWH trial enrolled 102 adults across three tertiary care intensive care units who achieved clinical stability on HFNC and met standardized weaning criteria (PaO2/FiO2 >= 150 or SpO2 >= 92% on FiO2 <= 0.40 and flow <= 30 L/min). Following exclusions, 87 patients were randomized to flow reduction first (FR, n=31), FiO2 reduction first (OR, n=26), or simultaneous reduction (SR, n=30). The primary outcome was successful transition to conventional oxygen therapy without HFNC resumption, noninvasive ventilation, or endotracheal intubation within 24 hours. Weaning success was achieved in 94% of the FR group, 81% of the OR group, and 77% of the SR group (p = 0.15). Median weaning duration was also comparable: 31.0 hours for FR, 29.5 hours for OR, and 29.5 hours for SR (p = 0.87).

Key takeaways

Multicenter RCT of 87 adults across 3 tertiary ICUs compared flow-first (n=31), oxygen-first (n=26), and simultaneous (n=30) HFNC de-escalation.
Weaning success rates at 24 hours did not significantly differ between strategies: 94% flow-first, 81% oxygen-first, and 77% simultaneous (p = 0.15).
Median weaning duration was approximately 30 hours across all three arms (31.0 hr vs 29.5 hr vs 29.5 hr, p = 0.87).
Findings indicate bedside clinicians can individualize HFNC weaning order based on patient comfort and work of breathing without compromising weaning success.

Why this matters on shift

ICU and step-down nurses frequently manage HFNC titration and weaning trials at the bedside. Evidence demonstrating clinical equivalence across sequential flow reduction, FiO2 reduction, and simultaneous titration allows nurses and respiratory therapists to tailor the weaning trajectory to individual patient physiology—such as prioritizing flow reduction for airway comfort or FiO2 reduction to limit oxygen toxicity.

Bedside takeaway

In an 87-patient multicenter RCT of critically ill adults, flow-first (94%), FiO2-first (81%), and simultaneous (77%) HFNC weaning showed comparable 24-hour success rates (p=0.15) and similar median weaning durations (~30 hours).

Nursing implications

Assess work of breathing, accessory muscle use, and oxygenation saturation during HFNC de-escalation; whether titrating flow or FiO2 first, titrate gradually per provider orders and monitor closely for respiratory fatigue within the initial 24 hours of step-down.

Limitations & cautions

Relatively modest sample size (87 completed participants) may have been underpowered to detect small differences between weaning arms; conducted in tertiary academic centers with dedicated protocols.
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Citations · exact source links

Critical care medicine (PubMed). Weaning Strategies for High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Critically Ill Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

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Neurosurgical review (PubMed)Oct 17, 2026Systematic Review

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 studies comprising 7,981 patients found extending single-agent antibiotic prophylaxis beyond one day did not reduce postoperative meningitis after endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery, whereas intraoperative CSF leak significantly increased infection risk.

Med-SurgAI summaryReview source

Systematic ReviewResearchInfection ControlMedication SafetyAI summary · original source linked below

Postoperative meningitis is an uncommon but severe complication following endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery (EESBS). While perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis is universally administered, the required duration remains controversial, frequently leading to prolonged, non-evidence-based antibiotic courses. Following PRISMA guidelines, researchers meta-analyzed 14 studies covering 7,981 patients receiving single-agent antibiotic prophylaxis categorized as ultra-short (≤1 day), short (1–3 days), or long (>3 days). The pooled incidence of postoperative meningitis across all cohorts was 1.38% (95% CI: 0.92%–2.08%; I² = 65.8%). Subgroup analysis showed comparable meningitis rates across duration cohorts: 1.24% for ultra-short prophylaxis (95% CI: 0.66%–2.32%), 1.20% for short prophylaxis (95% CI: 0.38%–3.70%), and 2.12% for long prophylaxis (95% CI: 0.82%–5.36%), with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.764). Meta-regression confirmed prophylaxis duration was not associated with meningitis (p = 0.487). Instead, higher study-level prevalence of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage was significantly associated with increased meningitis rates (β = 0.0389 per percentage point; p = 0.010).

Key takeaways

Meta-analysis evaluated 14 studies including 7,981 patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.
Overall postoperative meningitis incidence was 1.38% (95% CI: 0.92%–2.08%).
Meningitis rates did not differ between ultra-short ≤1 day (1.24%), short 1–3 days (1.20%), or long >3 days (2.12%) antibiotic regimens (p = 0.764).
Intraoperative CSF leakage was a significant driver of postoperative meningitis (p = 0.010), while prolonged antibiotic coverage conferred no protective benefit.

Why this matters on shift

Infection preventionists and perioperative surgical nurses champion antimicrobial stewardship by stopping surgical prophylaxis within 24 hours post-procedure. This large-scale evidence confirms that extending prophylactic antibiotics beyond 24 hours does not prevent central nervous system infections in skull base surgery and reinforces focusing post-op surveillance on intraoperative CSF leak status rather than extended antibiotic exposure.

Bedside takeaway

In 7,981 skull base surgeries, postoperative meningitis incidence was 1.38% and did not differ between ≤1 day (1.24%) and >3 days (2.12%) of antibiotics, while CSF leak was the primary infection risk.

Nursing implications

Support timely discontinuation of perioperative antibiotics within 24 hours post-op in accordance with national surgical infection prevention guidelines, maintain high clinical vigilance for signs of CSF rhinorrhea, headache, nuchal rigidity, and fever, and ensure rapid diagnostic escalation if CSF drainage is suspected.

Limitations & cautions

Included cohorts were retrospective observational studies with moderate heterogeneity (I² = 65.8%); specific antibiotic choices and dosing regimens varied across surgical centers.
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Citations · exact source links

Neurosurgical review (PubMed). Duration of single-agent perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis and postoperative meningitis after endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 7,981 patients.

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AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

Key takeaways

Practice implications

Limitations & cautions

Exact source links

More updates for this clinical area

Meta-analysis of 15 randomized trials associates mifepristone labor induction with 33% lower odds of cesarean delivery in term singleton pregnancies

Multicenter randomized trial finds flow-first, oxygen-first, and simultaneous HFNC weaning yield equivalent success rates in critically ill adults

Meta-analysis of 7,981 skull base surgeries finds extending antibiotic prophylaxis beyond 1 day does not reduce postoperative meningitis