Evidence based healthcare (EBH) reports

The Research unit produces a range of evidence based healthcare (EBH) reports for ACC:

  • Evidence based reviews are assessments of the effectiveness and safety of therapies, medicines or other health interventions. They developed according to a robust methodology similar to that used by the UK Centre for Evidence Based Medicine. This includes systematic searches of the literature, critical appraisal of existing research evidence and peer review by clinical experts.
  • Brief reports are concise summaries of what is known about the effectiveness and safety of health interventions. The methodology is similar to that used to develop evidence based reviews, but brief reports often focus on interventions for which formal research is limited.
  • Purchasing guidance - after an evidence based review or brief report is completed, the Research unit works with ACC’s Purchasing Guidance Advisory Group to develop recommendations on funding the intervention in question. The process ACC goes through in deciding whether to fund a particular intervention is documented in considered judgement forms based on those developed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
  • Clinical practice guidelines help health professionals, patients and funding organisations make informed decisions about health care. Guideline development is a systematic process that involves appraising evidence, consulting clinical experts and working with multidisciplinary advisory groups. ACC usually contracts the process out to external groups who specialise in guideline development, such as the New Zealand Guidelines Group.
  • Other reports examine the evidence around aspects of injury other than treatment effectiveness. These might include causation, diagnosis or long term prognosis.

See below for a list of EBH reports completed since January 2008, plus clinical practice guidelines published since 2004. The reports are listed by keyword and most are in portable document format (PDF).

If you have any questions about these reports, or you require access to our older reports, please email us at: research@acc.co.nz

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Arm & hand disorders

Distal upper limb: guidelines for management of some common musculoskeletal disorders (2009):

The guidelines advise on the clinical management of a range of disorders affecting the forearm and hand, including carpal tunnel syndrome, epicondylitis and de Quervain’s disease.

Printed copies of the summary version (with the concise version on CD inserted) can be ordered from the publications (clinical guidelines) page. The comprehensive version is only available as a PDF.

B

Back pain

Interspinous spacers - brief report [2009] (PDF 114K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 38K)

Intervertebral disc replacement – cervical total disc replacement purchasing guidance [2008] (PDF 88K) and lumbar total disc replacement purchasing guidance [2008] (PDF 97K)

New Zealand acute low back pain guide, incorporating the guide to assessing psychosocial yellow flags in acute low back pain [ACC1038] – clinical practice guideline [2004] (PDF 418K)

Brain injury

Effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation for the management of footdrop after stroke - brief report [2009] (PDF 73K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 53K)

Hart walker – brief report [2010] (PDF 130K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 46K)

Update on the effectiveness of music therapy for autistic spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury - brief report [2011] (PDF 159K) and purchasing guidance [2011] (PDF 42K)

Traumatic brain injury: diagnosis, acute management and rehabilitation [ACC2404] – clinical practice guideline [2006] (PDF 2.5M)

Traumatic brain injury: diagnosis, acute management and rehabilitation – guideline summary [ACC2610] [2009] (PDF 1.2M)

This guideline was developed for ACC by the New Zealand Guidelines Group. Additional resources are available from the NZGG website.

Burns

Microskin - brief report [2009] (PDF 79K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 43K)

Management of burns and scalds in primary care [ACC4046] – clinical practice guideline [2007] (PDF 2.1M)

Management of burns and scalds in primary care: guideline summary [ACC4047] – summary of the clinical practice guideline [2007] (PDF 928K)

C

Cerebral palsy

Hart walker – brief report [2010] (PDF 130K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 46K)

Update on the effectiveness of music therapy for autistic spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury - brief report [2011] (PDF 159K) and purchasing guidance [2011] (PDF 42K)

Clinical practice guidelines see Guidelines page

Chronic pain see Pain

D

Dental restoration

ACC dental implant guidelines [ACC 2458] revised [2010] (PDF 159K)

Dental implants: patient selection factors – evidence based review [2009] (PDF 609K)

Guidelines for restoration of fractured anterior teeth [ACC5466] [2010] (PDF 989K)

Optimum life-time management of coronal fractures in anterior teeth: a review of crowns, veneers, composite resin restorations and intra-coronal bleaching

Devices & orthotics

Effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation for the management of footdrop after stroke - brief report [2009] (PDF 73K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 53K)

Hart walker – brief report [2010] (PDF 130K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 46K)

Interspinous spacers - brief report [2009] (PDF 114K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 38K)

Intervertebral disc replacement – cervical total disc replacement purchasing guidance [2008] (PDF 88K) and lumbar total disc replacement purchasing guidance [2008] (PDF 97K)

Key grip orthosis – brief report [2009] (PDF 70K) and purchasing guidance [2009] (PDF 46K)

Distal upper limb disorders see Arm & hand disorders

Drug therapy

A review of pemetrexed in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma: the effectiveness, safety, cost effectiveness, impact on quality of life and identification of possible alternative cost effective pharmaceutical therapies – brief report [2009] (DOC 1.6M) and purchasing guidance [2009] (PDF 45K)

E

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in treatment of selected musculoskeletal conditions (updated 2008)

    Note: the 2008 ESWT review makes recommendations on the use of ESWT in the treatment of a range of conditions including tendinopathies and fracture healing. It updates a previous review carried out in 2004 which made recommendations on the use of ESWT in the treatment of plantar fasciitis only.

      Eye movement desensitisation & reprocessing

      Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) in treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – brief report [2008] (PDF 51K)

      F

      Fracture healing

      Low intensity ultrasound for promoting healing of fractures - brief report [2009] (PDF 61K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 42K)

      Functional electrical stimulation

      Effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation for the management of footdrop after stroke - brief report [2009] (PDF 73K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 53K)

      G

      Guidelines see Guidelines page

      H

      Hart walker

      Hart walker – brief report [2010] (PDF 130K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 46K)

      Hearing loss

      ACC guidelines (2010) for diagnosing occupational noise-induced hearing loss are available from the hearing loss resources section.

      I

      Interspinous spacers

      Interspinous spacers - brief report [2009] (PDF 114K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 38K)

      Interventional pain management see Pain

      Intervertebral disc replacement

      Intervertebral disc replacement – cervical total disc replacement purchasing guidance [2008] (PDF 88K) and lumbar total disc replacement purchasing guidance [2008] (PDF 97K)

      K

      Key grip orthosis

      Key grip orthosis – brief report [2009] (PDF 70K) and purchasing guidance [2009] (PDF 46K)

      Knee injuries

      MRI guidelines for the diagnosis of soft tissue knee injuries: internal derangements [ACC5468] – update to the clinical practice guideline [2010] (PDF 192K)

        This update to the 2003 knee guideline (see below) focuses solely on the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of knee injuries; following a review of the 2003 guideline, ACC updated its recommendations to provide more detailed guidance on when MRI is appropriate and necessary. In all other aspects, the recommendations of the 2003 guideline continue to be relevant.

        Meniscal cysts – causation review [2010] (PDF 141K)

        Meniscal tears – causation review [2010] (PDF 394K)

        Popliteal cysts or Baker’s cysts of the knee – causation review [2011] (PDF 180K)

        The diagnosis and management of soft tissue knee injuries: internal derangements [ACC1331] – clinical practice guideline [2003] (PDF 2.9M)

        The diagnosis and management of soft tissue knee injuries: internal derangements: key messages [ACC1332] – summary of the clinical practice guideline [2003] (PDF 236K)

        L

        Low intensity ultrasound

        Low intensity ultrasound for promoting healing of fractures - brief report [2009] (PDF 61K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 42K)

        M

        Microskin

        Microskin - brief report [2009] (PDF 79K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 43K)

        Music therapy

        Update on the effectiveness of music therapy for autistic spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury - brief report [2011] (PDF 159K) and purchasing guidance [2011] (PDF 42K)

        N

        Ness L300 foot drop system

        Effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation for the management of footdrop after stroke - brief report [2009] (PDF 73K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 53K)

        O

        Occupational illness

        A review of pemetrexed in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma: the effectiveness, safety, cost effectiveness, impact on quality of life and identification of possible alternative cost effective pharmaceutical therapies – brief report [2009] (DOC 1.6M) and purchasing guidance [2009] (PDF 45K)

        ACC guidelines for diagnosing occupational noise-induced hearing loss are available from the hearing loss resources section.

        The role of employers in return to work of people with musculoskeletal pain disorders – evidence based review [2010] (PDF 364K)

        P

        Pain - see also Back pain

        Effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation for the management of neuropathic pain – evidence based review [2009] (PDF 268K) and purchasing guidance [2009] (PDF 44K)

        Interventional pain management (IPM) guidance – ACC has developed web based clinical guidance on a wide range of interventions for persistent pain. The guidance was launched in 2005 and selected recommendations were updated in 2011. Please see:

        This is a handbook of instruments to assess persistent pain. The instruments cover the following areas: pain assessment; psychological instruments; functional assessment; and general health/quality of life. The CD version [ACC4606] can be ordered from the publications (pain management) page.

        Pemetrexed

        A review of pemetrexed in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma: the effectiveness, safety, cost effectiveness, impact on quality of life and identification of possible alternative cost effective pharmaceutical therapies – brief report [2009] (DOC 1.6M) and purchasing guidance [2009] (PDF 45K)

        Pressure ulcers

        Prognostic pathways on secondary disability and aging in people who have experienced a spinal cord injury: pressure ulcers [preliminary report] – evidence based review [2009] (PDF 579K)

        Pressure ulcers in spinal cord injured clients: a guide for practitioners - summary of the evidence based review [2009] (PDF 155K)

        R

        Rehabilitation, physical

        Intensive exercise programmes for spinal cord-injured individuals – evidence based review (2008, PDF 356K) and purchasing guidance [2008] (PDF 139K)

        Whole body vibration (WBV) training – evidence based review [2008] (PDF 96K) and purchasing guidance [2008] (PDF 129K)

        Rehabilitation, social & vocational

        Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) in treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – brief report [2008] (PDF 51K)

        The role of employers in return to work of people with musculoskeletal pain disorders – evidence based review [2010] (PDF 364K)

        Update on the effectiveness of music therapy for autistic spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury - brief report [2011] (PDF 159K) and purchasing guidance [2011] (PDF 42K)

        Restore implant

        Restore orthobiologic soft tissue implant for rotator cuff repair – brief report [2009] (PDF 96K) and purchasing guidance [2009] (PDF 44K)

        S

        Scar management

        Microskin - brief report [2009] (PDF 79K) and purchasing guidance [2010] (PDF 43K)

        Sexual abuse

        Sexual abuse and mental injury: practice guidelines for Aotearoa New Zealand [ACC 4451] – clinical practice guideline [2008] (PDF 1.1M)

        Shoulder injuries

        Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in treatment of selected musculoskeletal conditions (updated 2008)

        Note: the 2008 ESWT review makes recommendations on the use of ESWT in the treatment of a range of conditions including tendinopathies and fracture healing. It updates a previous review carried out in 2004 which made recommendations on the use of ESWT in the treatment of plantar fasciitis only.

        Restore orthobiologic soft tissue implant for rotator cuff repair – brief report [2009] (PDF 96K) and purchasing guidance [2009] (PDF 44K)

        The diagnosis and management of soft tissue shoulder injuries and related disorders [ACC1617] – clinical practice guideline [2004] (PDF 1.8M)

        The diagnosis and management of soft tissue shoulder injuries and related disorders: key messages [ACC1616] - summary of the clinical practice guideline [2004] (PDF 203K)

        Spinal cord injury

        Intensive exercise programmes for spinal cord-injured individuals – evidence based review [2008] (PDF 356K) and purchasing guidance [2008] (PDF 139K)

        Key grip orthosis – brief report [2009] (PDF 70K) and purchasing guidance [2009] (PDF 46K)

        Prognostic pathways on secondary disability and aging in people who have experienced a spinal cord injury: pressure ulcers [preliminary report] – evidence based review [2009] (PDF 579K)

        Pressure ulcers in spinal cord injured clients: a guide for practitioners - summary of the evidence based review [2009] (PDF 155K)

        Spinal cord stimulation

        Effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation for the management of neuropathic pain – evidence based review [2009] (PDF 268K) and purchasing guidance [2009] (PDF 44K)

        T

        Total disc arthroplasty see Intervertebral disc replacement

        Traumatic brain injury see Brain injury

        V
        Vibration training

        Whole body vibration (WBV) training – evidence based review [2008] (PDF 696K) and purchasing guidance [2008] (PDF 129K)

        Last updated: 7 December 2011