Research utilization models: frameworks for implementing evidence-based occupational therapy practice

Evidence-based practice is an important step in the professional evolution of occupational therapy and also provides the means for state-of-the-art innovative clinical service for clients. An essential step in incorporating innovations and developments into clinical practice is through research utilization. Nine models of research utilization developed in the literature are reviewed and critiqued. These are: (1) the Conduct and Utilization of Research in Nursing (CURN) Project; (2) the Stetler-Marram Model; (3) the University of North Carolina Approach; (4) the Innovation Diffusion Process Model; (5) Killeen's Matrix of Research Activity; (6) the Iowa Model of Research In Practice; (7) the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education In Nursing Project; (8) the Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training Project; and (9) the Linkage Model. Research utilization models provide a framework for collaboration and the necessary conditions for research utilization activities to be successful. Copyright © 1999 Whurr Publishers Ltd.     

Diagnosis: toxic!--trying to apply approaches of clinical diagnostics and prevalence in toxicology considerations.

The assessment of relevance of toxicological testing was compared with approaches of diagnostic medicine, a discipline that faces a comparable situation. Considering the work of a toxicologist as setting a diagnosis for compounds, assessment tools for diagnostic tests were transferred to toxicological tests. In clinical diagnostics, test uncertainty is well accepted and incorporated in this assessment. Furthermore, prevalence information is considered to evaluate the gain in information resulting from the application of a test. Several common toxicological scenarios, in which test uncertainty and prevalence are combined, are discussed including the interdependence of test accuracy, prevalence and predictive values or the sequential application of a screening and a confirmatory test. In addition, real prevalences derived from prevalences determined by an imperfect test are presented. We conclude that information on prevalences of toxic health effects is required to allow a complete assessment of the relevance of toxicological test. In this process, lessons can be learned from evidence-based approaches in clinical diagnostics.     

Assessing the need to update prevention guidelines: a comparison of two methods.

BACKGROUND: An important concern for developers of clinical practice guidelines is how best to determine when guidelines require updating to ensure they remain current and evidence based. Because of the high costs associated with updating guidelines, recent attention has focused on approaches that can reliably assess the extent of updating required. Recently, Shekelle and colleagues proposed a model of limited literature searches with modest expert involvement as a way to reduce the cost and time requirements for assessing whether a guideline needs updating. METHODS: The main objective of this study was to compare the Shekelle et al. assessment model (review approach) and a conventional process using typical systematic review methods (traditional approach) in terms of comprehensiveness and effort. We modeled the review approach on that by Shekelle and colleagues but refined it iteratively over three phases to achieve greater efficiency. Using both methods independently, we assessed the need to update six topics from the 1996 Guide to Clinical Preventive Services from the US Preventive Services Task Force. Main outcomes included completeness of study identification, importance of missed studies and the effort involved. RESULTS: Although the review approach identified fewer eligible studies than the traditional approach, none of the studies missed was rated as important by task force members acting as liaisons to the project with respect to whether the topic required an update. On average, the review approach produced substantially fewer citations to review than the traditional approach. The effort involved and potential time saving depended largely on the scope of the topic. CONCLUSIONS: The revised review approach provides an efficient and acceptable method for judging whether a guideline requires updating.     

PROSPER Community–University Partnership Model for Public Education Systems: Capacity-Building for Evidence-Based,Competence-Building Prevention

This paper presents a model to guide capacity-building in state public education systems for delivery of evidence-based family and youth interventions-interventions that are designed to bolster youth competencies, learning, and positive development overall. Central to this effort is a linking capacity agents framework that builds upon longstanding state public education infrastructures, and a partnership model called PROSPER or PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience. The paper presents an overview of the evolving partnership model and summarizes positive results of its implementation over a 12-year period in an ongoing project.     

制定肠外肠内营养指南和规范的"指南":方法学、推荐意见分级与通过程序

中华医学会肠外肠内营养学分会自2004年12月成立，即开始了合理规范应用肠外肠内营养学的有关工作。在中华医学会正副会长的指导下，2005年4月启动了肠外肠内营养“指南”和“规范”的制定工作。参与“指南”和“规范”编写的52位专家来自多个学科，也包括部分基层医院医护人员；共组成8个编写组，分别完成“指南”（草案）相应部分和部分“规范”的内容。 2006年5—8月，有7个编写组先后召开了8次总论和各论的“共识”和“规范”会议，就本版的编撰结构、证据分级和推荐意见分级体系、文献检索策略等方法学问题展开讨论，确定了工作方案，各自召开“共识会议”进行讨论，完成相应的文件。 通过确定检索策略、入选标准和特定关键词，采用系统化的文献检索，收集指南推荐意见相关支持证据。按照证据级别，参照国际标准并结合本领域的国内情况，制定推荐意见分级体系。 分会的“指南”（草案）和“规范”（草案）由各个“共识工作组”相互配合完成。达成“共识”后和最终定稿前，按“议事规则”对“指南”（草案）和“规范”（草案）进行投票表决。“肠外肠内营养临床指南和操作规范”力图反映目前国内外肠外肠内营养支持的最新证据，为临床医师、护理工作者、营养师和患者在特定临床条件下制定和实行肠外肠内营养支持方案提供帮助，并为卫生政策的制定者提供决策依据。由于内容宽广，部分内容欠缺甚多，有待今后补充。     

药物戒烟的循证性临床指南综述

目的:了解和介绍循证性临床指南中药物戒烟的条款。方法:通过Medline、TRIPdatabase和NGC等9个数据库或指南类网站搜集有关指南。采用比较、归纳和罗列的方式介绍有关内容。结果:收集到HEA等6个循证性临床指南。(1)戒烟的一线药物有尼古丁制剂和安非拉酮,二线药物有可乐定和去甲替林;(2 )尼古丁替代疗法是有效的、安全的和主要的药物戒烟方法;(3)安非拉酮是有效的、安全的戒烟药物;(4)可乐定和去甲替林是有效的戒烟药物,应在一线药物无效或禁忌时在医生的监督下应用;(5 )没有足够的证据显示安定、普萘洛尔和美加明等药物的戒烟效果;(6 )尼古丁制剂对妊娠、心血管疾病患者基本上是安全的;(7)戒烟一般伴有体重的增加。结论:应该鼓励吸烟者戒烟;应该鼓励应用药物进行戒烟。     

Pharmacological treatment of generalized anxiety disorder

Introduction: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic, relapsing, debilitating disorder, associated with markedly impaired social and occupational functioning. Pharmacological treatment is considered standard care and several drug classes are now FDA approved for the treatment of GAD. While there are clear data for the efficacy of short-term acute treatment, long-term treatment and treatment-resistant GAD remain challenging.

Areas covered: This article describes current pharmacological treatment options for GAD, with focus on benzodiazepines, azapirones, antidepressants and anticonvulsant and antipsychotic drugs. Recent findings from placebo-controlled clinical trials are reviewed and evidence-based clinical implications are discussed. A PubMed search was completed using the terms: ‘generalized anxiety disorder AND treatment’ and ‘generalized anxiety disorder AND therapy’. Additional pivotal trials were included for a historical perspective (older landmark trials that established efficacy and safety for older drug classes in the treatment of GAD).

Expert opinion: Efficacy for treatment of GAD has been established for several different drug classes. At present, based on clear efficacy and good tolerability, first-line treatment with either a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) is indicated. If an initial, at least moderate, clinical response is achieved under antidepressant therapy, treatment should be at least continued for 12 months.     

The clinical use of Arthur Boothroyd (AB) word lists in Australia: exploring evidence-based practice

Objective: Limited empirical investigation exists validating the use of Arthur Boothroyd (AB) word recognition materials within the Australian clinical context. The current research was undertaken to examine the evidence base and clinical implementation/interpretation of AB words in Australia. Design: An on-line 22-question survey was e-mailed to members of the peak audiology professional body in Australia. Study sample: Three hundred and twelve responses were recorded between April and June 2015 from audiologists of a range of ages, working in various clinical settings. Results: The survey results suggested audiologists use AB words on a wide range of clients from children <5 to adults ≥80?years, for diverse purposes including diagnosis of retrocochlear pathology, candidacy and validation of rehabilitative options, and client counselling. A majority of respondents reported typically administering one or two word lists per ear, and over 99% of audiologists utilised phonemic scoring. There was no consensus regarding what constitutes a significant difference between any two given scores. Conclusions: Wide variation exists in the administration and interpretation of AB words in Australia. There appears to be a mismatch between clinical utilisation of AB words and existing evidence-based empirical data. Further research is required to improve evidence-based audiologist training, and thereby current clinical use of AB words.     

Outcome of Partial Pulpotomy in Cariously Exposed Posterior Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IntroductionThe current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the success rate of partial pulpotomy in treating permanent posterior teeth with carious vital pulp exposure. A secondary aim was to assess the prognostic factors using a meta-regression.MethodsAn electronic search was performed for studies from January 1950 to November 2018 in the following databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane. All searches were performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Clinical studies evaluating the success rate of cariously exposed vital human permanent posterior teeth treated with a partial pulpotomy were selected. Only randomized clinical trials and prospective clinical studies were included for evaluation. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool were used to evaluate risk assessment.ResultsFrom the 218 studies identified through the initial search, 11 studies qualified for the final analysis (5 randomized clinical trials and 6 prospective studies). The results of the meta-analysis indicate a success rate of 98% (confidence interval [CI]: 0.94–1), 96% (CI: 0.92–0.99), and 92% (CI: 0.83–0.97) after 6 months and 1 and 2 years of follow-up. Examining the probable prognostic factors using meta-regression analysis, only preoperative pulp status (P = .001) was identified as a significant factor, with studies including teeth with the presumptive diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis displaying significantly lower results. The final solution, pulp capping material, apex closure, and the age of the patient did not affect the treatment success rate (P > .05).ConclusionsThe available data suggest that a partial pulpotomy results in high success rates in treating cariously exposed permanent posterior teeth up to 2 years. Six months of monitoring can be considered an appropriate period when evaluating the success of a partial pulpotomy although more clinical and radiographic controls are essential to ensuring success.