Literature searching for systematic reviews.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Sindhu.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The aim of this study was to develop a quality of study tool rate the methodological quality of individual primary randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to be included in a meta-analysis. A Delphi-technique using several rounds of questions to seek consensus, among trialists, on criteria important in a RCT was used. Eight trialists formed the Delphi panel. The developed quality of study tool consisted of 53 items in 15 dimensions. The tool was tested for reliability and validity. Unlike many other quality assessment tools, the developed tool may be used to rate numerically each primary study. This is important in reviews or in meta-analyses where one objective may be to ascertain whether those studies of a higher quality exhibit different results to reviewing studies of lower quality. The tool needs further testing.
The science of systematically reviewing literature has become a research process in its own right. The key word of course, is systematic. In the context of a systematic review this indicates that all possible sources have been comprehensively searched using a pre-defined search strategy designed to identify all relevant published and unpublished work. This paper illustrates the components of a comprehensive search, examines the yield of this approach and discusses the time and resource requirements for conducting the search. It uses as an example a recently completed systematic review. The paper goes on to discuss ways in which nurses can become more involved in conducting and using the results of good quality reviews.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effectiveness of a non-pharmacological intervention on the management of pain was conducted. Forty-nine relevant primary studies were identified and retrieved. Individual mean pain scores from these studies were converted to standardized effect sizes and meta-analyses were conducted. Although there is evidence, in the form of primary studies, to suggest that non-pharmacological nursing interventions are effective in the management of pain, the 49 studies, pooled in this meta-analysis, were too heterogeneous to detect a difference between the treatment and control groups reliably. There is a need to rigorously test these interventions in the form of primary RCTs.
Nursing care should be based on sound research evidence with demonstrated clinical effectiveness. Dissemination of this research evidence is, therefore, of paramount importance. A study using focus groups was undertaken during 1993-1994 to evaluate the dissemination of a clinical handbook for continence care to qualified nurses, in relation to reported nursing practice in care of the elderly wards/units in one health authority. A total of 124 nurses participated in the study and 98 variables were included. Improvements were recorded in nurses' responses between the pre-test and post-test for 84 (86 per cent) variables in the experimental group and 58 (59 per cent) in the control group. This demonstrates the positive value of the clinical handbook as a method of disseminating research evidence.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.