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Biomedical subjects

J Glanville

Publications and source records attributed to J Glanville.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Interventions for drug-using offenders in the courts, secure establishments and the community.

BACKGROUND: Drug strategies internationally recognize link between drug use and crime. This review consider interventions for drug-using offenders under the care of the criminal justice system. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of interventions for drug-using offenders in reducing criminal activity and drug use in the courts, secure establishments and community-based settings. SEARCH STRATEGY: Twenty two electronic databases were searched (1980 to 2004). Internet sites and experts in the field were contacted for further information. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised Controlled Trials designed to reduce, eliminate or prevent relapse in drug using offenders DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trials for inclusion. Data were extracted by one author and double checked. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty four studies, 8936 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Results show that comparing a court-based community pre-trial release with drugs testing and sanctions versus routine pre-trial, for arrest at 90 days results favoured the comparison group OR 1.33 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.70). Comparing therapeutic community with aftercare with a mental health programme with a waiting list control, considering incarceration at 12 months OR 0.37 (95% CI 0.16 to 0.87), results in favour of the treatment Comparing intensive supervision with routine parole/probation, for recidivism OR 1.98 (95% CI 1.01 to 3.87) results in favour of comparison group, no statistically significant difference between the groups for arrest OR 1.49 (95% CI 0.88 to 2.51), drug arrest OR 1.10 (95% CI 0.50 to 2.39), conviction OR 0.93 (95% CI 0.55 to 1.58 ) and incarceration at one year OR 0.88 (95% CI 0.50, 1.54). Comparing intensive supervision and increased surveillance with intensive supervision alone, no statistically significant difference between the groups for recidivism OR 2.09 (95% CI, 0.86 to 5.07), arrest OR 1.22 (95% CI 0.51 to 2.88]), drug arrest, OR 1.29 (95% CI 0.35 to 4.85), conviction OR0.1.14 (95% CI, 0.22, to 5.91) and incarceration OR 1.30 (95% CI 0.39, to 4.30]) at one year. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Limited conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of drug treatment programmes for drug-using offenders in the courts or the community. This is partly due to the broad range of studies and the heterogenity of the different outcome measures presented. Therapeutic communities with aftercare show promising results for the reduction of drug use and criminal activity in drug using offenders. Standardisation of outcome measures and costing methodology would help improve the quality of research conducted in the area.

Aftercare↗
PubMed2006

Cost-effectiveness of using prognostic information to select women with breast cancer for adjuvant systemic therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cost-effectiveness of using prognostic information to identify patients with breast cancer who should receive adjuvant therapy. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases from 1980 through to February 2002. A survey of clinical practice in UK cancer centres and units. Large retrospective dataset containing data on prognostic factors, treatments and outcomes for women with early breast cancer treated in Oxford. REVIEW METHODS: Between six and nine databases were searched by an information expert. Evidence-based methods were used to review and select those studies and the quality of each included paper was assessed using standard assessment tools reported in the literature or piloted and developed for this study. A survey of clinical practice in UK cancer centres and units was carried out to ensure that conclusions drawn from the report could be implemented. These data, along with the information gathered in the systematic reviews, informed the methodological approach adopted for the health economic modelling. An illustrative framework was developed for incorporating patient-level prediction within a health economic decision model. This framework was applied to a large retrospective dataset containing data on prognostic factors, treatments and outcomes for women with early breast cancer treated in Oxford. The data were used to estimate directly a parametric regression-based risk equation, from which a prognostic index was developed, and prognosis-specific estimates of the baseline breast cancer hazard could be observed. Published estimates of treatment effects, health service treatment costs and utilities were used to construct a decision analytic framework around this risk equation, thus enabling simulation of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of adjuvant therapy for all possible combinations of prognostic factors included in the model. RESULTS: The lack of good-quality systematic reviews and well-conducted studies of prognostic factors in breast cancer is a striking finding. There are no registers of studies of prognostic factors or of reviews of prognostic studies. Many of the reviews used weak methods, primary studies are similar with poor methodology and reporting of results. In addition, there is much variation in patient populations, assay methods, analysis of results, definitions used and reporting of results. Most studies appear to be retrospective and some use inappropriate methods likely to inflate outcomes such as optimising cut points and failing to test the results in an independent population. Very few reviews used meta-analysis to conduct a pooled analysis and to provide an estimate of the average size of any association. Instead, most reviews relied on vote counting. Although many prognostic models for breast cancer have been published, remarkably few have been re-examined by independent groups in independent settings. The few validation studies have been carried out on ill-defined samples, sometimes of smaller size and short follow-up, and sometimes using different patient outcomes when validating a model. The evidence from the validation studies shows support for the prognostic value of the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI). No new prognostic factors have been shown to add substantially to those identified in the 1980s. Improvement of this index depends on finding factors that are as important as, but independent of, lymph node, stage and pathological grade. The NPI remains a useful clinical tool, although additional factors may enhance its use. We accepted that hormone receptor status (ER) for hormonal therapy such as tamoxifen and prediction of response to trastuzumab by HER2 did not require systematic review, as the mechanism of action of these drugs requires intact receptors. There was no clear evidence that other factors were useful predictors of response and survival. The survey confirmed pathological nodal status, tumour grade, tumour size and ER status as the most clinically important factors for consideration when selecting women with early breast cancer for adjuvant systemic therapy in the UK. The protocols revealed that although UK cancer centres appear to be using the same prognostic and predictive factors when selecting women to receive adjuvant therapy, much variation in clinical practice exists. Some centres use protocols based upon the NPI whereas others do not use a single index score. Within NPI and non-NPI users, between-centre variability exists in guidelines for women for whom the benefits are uncertain. Consensus amongst units appears to be greatest when selecting women for adjuvant hormone therapy with the decision based primarily upon ER or progesterone receptor status rather than combinations of a number of factors. Guidelines as to who should receive adjuvant chemotherapy, however, were found to be much less uniform. Searches of the literature revealed only five published papers that had previously examined the cost-effectiveness of using prognostic information for clinical decision-making. These studies were of varying quality and highlight the fact that economic evaluation in this area appears still to be in its infancy. By combining methodologies used in determining prognosis with those used in health economic evaluation, it was possible to illustrate an approach for simulating the effectiveness (survival and quality-adjusted survival) and the cost-effectiveness associated with the decision to treat individual women or groups of women with different prognostic characteristics. The model showed that effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of adjuvant systemic therapy have the potential to vary substantially depending upon prognosis. For some women therapy may prove very effective and cost-effective, whereas for others it may actually prove detrimental (i.e. the reductions in health-related quality of life outweigh any survival benefit). CONCLUSIONS: Outputs from the framework constructed using the methods described here have the potential to be useful for clinicians, attempting to determine whether net benefits can be obtained from administering adjuvant therapy for any presenting woman; and also for policy makers, who must be able to determine the total costs and outcomes associated with different prognosis based treatment protocols as compared with more conventional treat all or treat none policies. A risk table format enabling clinicians to look up a patient's prognostic factors to determine the likely benefits (survival and quality-adjusted survival) from administering therapy may be helpful. For policy makers, it was demonstrated that the model's output could be used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different treatment protocols based upon prognostic information. The framework should also be valuable in evaluating the likely impact and cost-effectiveness of new potential prognostic factors and adjuvant therapies.

Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic↗
PubMed2006

Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of tests for the diagnosis and investigation of urinary tract infection in children: a systematic review and economic model.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of tests for detecting urinary tract infection (UTI) in children under 5 years of age and to evaluate the effectiveness of tests used to investigate further children with confirmed UTI. Also, to evaluate the effectiveness of following up children with UTI and the cost-effectiveness of diagnostic and imaging tests for the diagnosis and follow-up of UTI in children under 5. An additional objective was to develop a preliminary diagnostic algorithm for healthcare professionals. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases were searched up to the end of 2002/early 2003. Consultation with experts in the field. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic review was undertaken using published guidelines and results were analysed according to test grouping: diagnosis of UTI and further investigation of UTI. The cost-effectiveness results from existing evaluations were synthesised. A separate cost-effectiveness model was developed using the best available evidence, in part derived from the results of the systematic review, to illustrate the potential cost-effectiveness of some alternative management strategies in a UK setting. The results of the systematic review were used to propose diagnostic algorithms for the diagnosis and further investigation of UTI in children. Economic analyses did not contribute directly to the development of these algorithms. RESULTS: The studies included in the review provided very little data on the accuracy of clinical investigations for the diagnosis of UTI, and criteria for clinical suspicion of UTI were not further defined. The majority of studies included in the review found that clean voided midstream urine (CVU) samples had similar accuracy to suprapubic aspiration (SPA) samples when cultured with the advantage of being a non-invasive collection method that can be used in the GP's surgery. Pad, nappy or bag specimens may be appropriate methods for obtaining a urine sample in non-toilet-trained children, although only limited data were available. Although the glucose test was reported to have the highest accuracy in terms of both ruling in and ruling out disease, only a limited number of studies of this test were included and these were conducted over 30 years ago. Dipstick tests are easy to perform in the GP's surgery, give an immediate result and are relatively cheap. The results of the systematic review showed that a dipstick for leucocyte esterase (LE) and nitrite, where both test results are interpreted in combination, was a good test both for ruling in (both positive) and ruling out (both negative) a UTI. A dipstick positive for either LE or nitrite and negative for the other provides inconclusive diagnostic information and further testing is therefore required in these patients. Microscopy is more time consuming and expensive to perform than a dipstick test, but potentially quicker and cheaper than culture. As with dipstick tests, a combination of microscopy for pyuria and bacteriuria can be used accurately to rule in and rule out a UTI. An indeterminate test result is again obtained if microscopy is positive for either pyuria or bacteriuria, and negative for the other. Confirmatory culture is required in these patients. In patients considered to have a UTI, further culture to determine antibiotic sensitivities may be an option to inform treatment decisions. Only one study satisfied the inclusion criteria of the economic review and the review highlighted a number of potential limitations of this study for NHS decision-making. A separate decision-analytic model was therefore developed to provide a more reliable estimate of the optimal strategy regarding the diagnosis and further investigation of children under 5 with suspected UTI from the perspective of the NHS. The economic model found that the optimal diagnostic strategy for children presenting with symptoms suggestive of UTI depends on a number of key factors. These included the relevant subgroup of children concerned, in terms of gender and age, and the health service's maximum willingness to pay for an additional quality-adjusted life-year. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the systematic review were used to derive an algorithm for the diagnosis of UTI in children under 5. This algorithm represents the conclusions of the review in terms of effective practice. There were insufficient data to propose an algorithm for the further investigation of UTI in children under 5. The quality assessment highlighted several areas that could be improved upon in future diagnostic accuracy studies.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2004

Review of guidelines for good practice in decision-analytic modelling in health technology assessment.

OBJECTIVES: To identify existing guidelines and develop a synthesised guideline plus accompanying checklist. In addition to provide guidance on key theoretical, methodological and practical issues and consider the implications of this research for what might be expected of future decision-analytic models. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic review of existing good practice guidelines was undertaken to identify and summarise guidelines currently available for assessing the quality of decision-analytic models that have been undertaken for health technology assessment. A synthesised good practice guidance and accompanying checklist was developed. Two specific methods areas in decision modelling were considered. The first method's topic is the identification of parameter estimates from published literature. Parameter searches were developed and piloted using a case-study model. The second topic relates to bias in parameter estimates; that is, how to adjust estimates of treatment effect from observational studies where there are risks of selection bias. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify those studies looking at quantification of bias in parameter estimates and the implication of this bias. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed and consolidated into a single set of brief statements of good practice. From this, a checklist was developed and applied to three independent decision-analytic models. Although the checklist provided excellent guidance on some key issues for model evaluation, it was too general to pick up on the specific nuances of each model. The searches that were developed helped to identify important data for inclusion in the model. However, the quality of life searches proved to be problematic: the published search filters did not focus on those measures specific to cost-effectiveness analysis and although the strategies developed as part of this project were more successful few data were found. Of the 11 studies meeting the criteria on the effect of selection bias, five concluded that a non-randomised trial design is associated with bias and six studies found 'similar' estimates of treatment effects from observational studies or non-randomised clinical trials and randomised controlled trials (RCTs). One purpose of developing the synthesised guideline and checklist was to provide a framework for critical appraisal by the various parties involved in the health technology assessment process. First, the guideline and checklist can be used by groups that are reviewing other analysts' models and, secondly, the guideline and checklist could be used by the various analysts as they develop their models (to use it as a check on how they are developing and reporting their analyses). The Expert Advisory Group (EAG) that was convened to discuss the potential role of the guidance and checklist felt that, in general, the guidance and checklist would be a useful tool, although the checklist is not meant to be used exclusively to determine a model's quality, and so should not be used as a substitute for critical appraisal. CONCLUSIONS: The review of current guidelines showed that although authors may provide a consistent message regarding some aspects of modelling, in other areas conflicting attributes are presented in different guidelines. In general, the checklist appears to perform well, in terms of identifying those aspects of the model that should be of particular concern to the reader. The checklist cannot, however, provide answers to the appropriateness of the model structure and structural assumptions, as these may be seen as a general problem with generic checklists and do not reflect any shortcoming with the synthesised guidance and checklist developed here. The assessment of the checklist, as well as feedback from the EAG, indicated the importance of its use in conjunction with a more general checklist or guidelines on economic evaluation. Further methods research into the following areas would be valuable: the quantification of selection bias in non-controlled studies and in controlled observational studies; the level of bias in the different non-RCT study designs; a comparison of results from RCTs with those from other non-randomised studies; assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of alternative ways to adjust for bias in a decision model; and how to prioritise searching for parameter estimates.

Benchmarking↗
PubMed2001

Access to the evidence base from general practice: a survey of general practice staff in Northern and Yorkshire Region.

AIM: To identify and describe current methods of making health related research evidence accessible to general practice staff in the Northern and Yorkshire Region. METHOD: A postal survey questionnaire of general practice staff in the Northern and Yorkshire Region. RESULTS: At least one completed questionnaire was obtained from 70% of the general practices surveyed, and the individual response rate to the survey was 45%. Just under 60% of all respondents reported having no access to the NHS internet and just under 50% also reported having no access to the internet. All respondents in this survey reported greater access to paper based information than to electronic databases. However, this research provides evidence of differential access to information resources between different professions in general practice with GPs clearly having easier access than other professions to both paper based resources and electronic databases. 70% of all respondents said that they would need to be trained to use either a computer, the internet, or to search databases if the opportunity for easy access to any of these information services was available. CONCLUSIONS: At the time of this survey, general practices seemed to be struggling to set up the infrastructure and develop the skills that are necessary to make best use of available research evidence. In addition, there is a need for further investigation into the reasons why different professions working in the same practice setting have differential access to information resources available in primary care.

Computer User Training↗
PubMed2001

A rapid and systematic review of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of debriding agents in treating surgical wounds healing by secondary intention.

BACKGROUND: Most surgically sutured wounds heal without any complication. However, in some cases wound healing can be delayed due to the presence of infection or wound breakdown. This can result in the wounds becoming cavity wounds and thus necessitate healing by secondary intention. Other surgical wounds that are not sutured but left to heal by secondary intention include abscess cavities such as perianal abscesses or breast abscesses. Surgical wounds healing by secondary intention are thought to heal more slowly than wounds healing by primary intention, especially if infection is present or healing is compromised by factors such as decreased blood supply, poor nutritional status or a general suppression of the immune response. Such wounds may contain dead tissue and have a moderate or high level of exudate. Debridement involves the removal of devitalised, necrotic tissue or fibrin from a wound. There are many different methods that can be used to debride a wound, which are broadly classified as surgical/sharp, biosurgical, mechanical, chemical, enzymatic and autolytic. Although it is generally agreed that the management of surgical wounds which contain devitalised tissue and are healing by secondary intention requires debridement, it is not always clear as to what is the best method or agent to use. There is currently a large selection of products with debriding properties available on the market, which vary considerably in cost. It is important that the choice of both debriding method and product is based on the best scientific evidence available, taking into account both cost and effectiveness data. OBJECTIVES: The review had two main objectives: (1) To determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of debriding agents in treating surgical wounds healing by secondary intention. (2) To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treating patients with surgical wounds healing by secondary intention at specialised wound care clinics as compared to conventional care. The review incorporated all debriding methods and any agent that is considered to have a debriding property. METHODS The following databases were searched using strategies designed specifically for each database: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, HMIC (Health Management Information Consortium), CCTR via the Cochrane Library, the National Research Register (NRR), the NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), and the Health Economic Evaluations Database (HEED). Additional references were identified through reviewing manufacturer and sponsor submissions made to NICE, the bibliographies of retrieved articles, and conferences proceedings on the Internet. Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or non-randomised controlled trials with concurrent controls and full economic evaluations were considered for inclusion. Only studies that evaluated some sort of debriding method or a specialised wound care clinic (a nurse with specialist training in wound care; care being provided by a multidisciplinary team; a fast-track referral system to other professions (e.g. dermatologist); or access to the latest health technology) were included in the review. Studies had to include participants with surgical wounds healing by secondary intention (e.g. cavity wounds, the consequences of wound dehiscence and abscesses) and report an objective measure of wound healing. Data were extracted by one reviewer and checked by a second. Quality assessment was conducted independently by two reviewers. Disagreements were resolved by consensus and, when necessary, by recourse to a third reviewer. The primary outcomes of interest were wound healing and cost. Results of data extraction and quality assessment were presented in structured tables and also as a narrative summary. In addition, where feasible, the results of individual studies were presented as forest plots. Studies were grouped according to the type of wound, debriding method and outcome measure used. RESULTS - CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS: Seventeen trials met the inclusion criteria, all of which used the autolytic method of debridement. No studies were found that investigated sharp/surgical, biosurgical, mechanical, chemical or enzymatic debridement in the treatment of surgical wounds healing by secondary intention. No studies were found which investigated specialised wound care clinics that included the provision of care within a clinical setting (based in either primary or secondary care). The type of surgical wounds investigated by studies included in the review were those that had broken down postoperatively, perineal wounds resulting from proctolectomy or rectal excision, and those left open after pilonidal sinus excision or abscess incision, or wounds following a laparotomy. Four additional studies investigated treatment of postoperative wounds from toenail avulsions. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2000

The U.K. NHS economic evaluation database. Economic issues in evaluations of health technology.

OBJECTIVE: The U.K. NHS Economic Evaluation Database (EED) project is commissioned to identify papers on economic evaluations of health technologies and to disseminate their findings to NHS decision makers by means of structured abstracts that are available through a public database and the Cochrane Library. This paper discusses current issues relating to the economic aspects of producing NHS EED abstracts. METHODS: A review of NHS EED was undertaken between 1994 and 1999 to determine the methodologies adopted and issues that influence the usefulness of economic evaluations. Methods adopted to improve the quality of NHS EED abstracts are also reported. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of NHS EED abstracts are cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs), 9.3% are cost-utility analyses (CUAs), and only 1.4% are cost-benefit analyses (CBAs). Of the total abstracts, 65.9% are based on single studies, 19.5% on reviews, 3.9% on estimates of effectiveness, and 10.7% on combinations of these sources. Models are utilized in 16.7% of CEAs, 60.2% of CUAs, and 20% of CBAs. Analyses of CBA studies reveal a degree of misuse of well-established definitions. NHS EED internal control mechanisms are reported that provide a means of ensuring that abstracts are based on sound academic principles. CONCLUSIONS: Most economic evaluations are conducted by means of CEA, followed by CUA, while CBA accounts for an extreme minority of cases. Single studies form the principal source of effectiveness data, although models are widely used, principally in CUA. The structure of NHS EED abstracts provides decision makers with the principal results and an interpretation of the relative strengths and weaknesses of economic evaluations.

Abstracting and Indexing↗
PubMed1997

Evaluating the options for developing databases to support research-based medicine at the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination.

The paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey and user interface review group experiments to determine the value and ease of use of the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE) and the NHS Economic Evaluations Database (NEED). The results are interpreted with other recent studies of the use of electronic databases, including the NHS Research Register User Requirements Specification. The study found that most frequent users of the DARE database tend to use the CD-ROM version. Librarians were found to have the greatest awareness of the databases, with relatively low levels of use by operational NHS Staff. Untrained users found the online databases difficult to access and had erroneous perceptions of the database content which were only realised when queries returned unexpected answers. Experienced users of online information systems tended to want more sophisticated search facilities than inexperienced users. Nearly all users in the review groups wanted to access the databases in conjunction with other information sources, such as the Cochrane Library, Medline and the ACP Journal Club, highlighting the need for cross organisational strategies for the dissemination of research-based information.

CD-ROM↗
PubMed1994

The efficacy of a multimedia educational campaign to increase the use of eye care services.

PURPOSE: Effective eye care, both preventive and problem-directed, requires that patients actually see trained eye care providers. The authors examined the impact of a multimedia campaign on patient behavior in using eye care. METHODS: The authors surveyed 2000 individuals 1 year after they mailed in a contrast sensitivity screening card during a focused multimedia educational campaign. The response rate was 39%, allowing precision of estimates to +/- 4%. FINDINGS: Those who failed the screening test were much more likely to have had an eye examination in the year after the campaign and were much more likely to have seen an ophthalmologist for their care. Other important factors significantly related to using eye care services were: having had prior examinations, having a non-ophthalmologist physician, and having a history of cancer or macular degeneration. Importantly, 22% of those who failed the screening test thought they had had normal results when asked 1 year later. CONCLUSIONS: A focused multimedia campaign combined with interactive patient involvement can directly increase the use of eye care services. In addition, such care is much more likely to be delivered by ophthalmologist as opposed to other providers.

Contrast Sensitivity↗
PubMed1994

Evidence-based practice: the role of the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination.

The increasing need to adopt evidence-based practice places large information demands on health professionals. This paper draws on the experience of the information team of the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination to examine opportunities for information workers to assist researchers and health professionals in the move to more evidence-based care. The importance of research reviews for the development of evidence-based practice and the process of conducting overviews are discussed. The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination is disseminating the results of reviews and developing information services for information professionals, health practitioners and health service managers. The services include databases of structured abstracts of quality reviews and economic evaluations and an enquiry service.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Where's the evidence? How to find clinical-effectiveness information.

The National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination is the sibling organization to the UK Cochrane Centre, which is part of the Cochrane Collaboration. The two centers form part of a UK-government-funded initiative to provide information for research-based health care in a variety of ways, ranging from databases to printed publications. The new evidence-based culture in health care presents new challenges to healthcare professionals, who have discovered that systematic reviews and evidence-based guidelines are useful tools in the struggle to stay abreast of published research. However, the numbers of reviews and guidelines are increasing, and keeping track of them presents a new problem. Keeping up-to-data with research is a continuing issue because of constraints in time, resources, and poor search interfaces. There also are challenges in acquiring or developing skills, such as information retrieval to locate research, as well as critical appraisal abilities to evaluate research. However, there are many existing resources that can supply information on clinical effectiveness and many developing services that are trying to provide access to research information in timely and intuitive ways.

Computer Communication Networks↗