Implementing evidence-based interventions for managing pediatric hydrocephalus: a systematic review protocol

Pediatric hydrocephalus (PH) accounts for one of the most frequent neurological conditions in children and with a high burden in developing countries. The plurality of its etiological mechanisms has led to several therapeutic modalities, including the endoscopic third ventriculostomy, which has shown significant benefits. This study aims to determine the availability of PH treatment modalities worldwide using an implementation science framework. This systematic review will be conducted following AMSTAR guidelines and reported following PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search from database inception to the date the search is run will be conducted in Medline, Embase and Global Index Medicus. Conference abstracts, scoping, systematic reviews (SRs), book chapters and non-French/English publications will be excluded. After the screening process, data will be extracted, and its quality analyzed. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Cochrane risk of bias 2.00 tool will be employed to assess the risk of bias. Odds or risk ratios and mean differences with their 95% confidence interval will measure the effect. The I2 statistic will describe effect heterogeneity in meta-analysis data. No Ethic approval is required. Evidence-based practice is a complex problem-solving approach derived from high-quality evidence. Their implementation models are well reported in neurosciences in resource-limited countries. This SR will use the Framework for Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance to conceptualize the public health impact of PH treatment modalities. We will identify reasons for the low use of an evidence-based strategy to inform policy. The protocol has been registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42022354804).