Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33430819›Full record

Trial reportBMC pediatrics2021

Effectiveness of FIBEROPTIC phototherapy compared to conventional phototherapy in treating HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA amongst term neonates: a randomized controlled trial.

Helvi N Joel, Deborah N Mchaile, Rune N Philemon, Ronald M Mbwasi, Levina Msuya

Open access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC pediatrics, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.3field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Helvi N JoelDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P O Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania. helvi.joel@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0001-9870-1785
Deborah N MchaileDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P O Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania.
Rune N PhilemonDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P O Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania.
Ronald M MbwasiDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P O Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania.
Levina MsuyaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P O Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania.
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre · TZ

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeonatal jaundice is one of the most common problems in neonates. Effective treatment of jaundice requires therapeutic intervention with high quality phototherapy. Over recent years, several studies reported fiberoptic phototherapy to be less effective than conventional phototherapy in term neonates. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness of fiberoptic phototherapy with a larger illuminated area and higher irradiance to conventional phototherapy methods.

methodsThis was a randomized controlled trial conducted at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC). A total of 41 term neonates, less than 7 days of age with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were randomized. Thirteen (13) neonates were allocated to receive fiberoptic phototherapy, 13 to blue light conventional phototherapy and 15 to white light conventional phototherapy. Effectiveness was assessed by comparing the duration of phototherapy, bilirubin reduction rate and side effects of treatment. The data was analyzed with the independent t-test.

resultsThe mean overall bilirubin reduction rate was comparable in the fiberoptic phototherapy group (0.74%/h) and the blue light conventional phototherapy group (0.84%/h), with no statistically significant difference (p-value 0.124). However, white light conventional phototherapy had a significantly lower mean overall bilirubin reduction rate (0.29%/h) as compared to fiberoptic phototherapy (p-value < 0.001). The mean treatment duration of phototherapy was 69 h, 68 h and 90 h in the fiberoptic, blue light conventional and white light conventional phototherapy groups respectively. Side effects such as loose stool and skin rash were noted in some participants who received conventional phototherapy. No side effects of treatment were noted in the fiberoptic phototherapy group.

conclusionThe effectiveness of fiberoptic PT and blue light conventional PT were comparable in terms of bilirubin reduction rate and treatment duration, whereas fiberoptic phototherapy was more effective than white light conventional PT, with a significantly higher bilirubin reduction rate and shorter treatment duration. Fiberoptic phototherapy may mitigate side effects caused by conventional phototherapy.

trial registrationThe Pan African Clinical Trial Registry, PACTR202004723570110 . Registered 22nd April 2020- Retrospectively registered.

Indexed as

Hyperbilirubinemia, NeonatalJaundice, NeonatalBilirubinHumansHyperbilirubinemiaInfant, NewbornPhototherapyTanzaniaTreatment OutcomeBilirubinPhototherapyUnconjugated hyperbilirubinemia

Identifiers

PMID33430819
PMCPMC7798326
OpenAlexW3117389726

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.