不同类型研究设计在卫生决策中的应用情况

传统上,卫生监管部门和卫生技术评估（HTA）组织将随机对照试验（RCT）视为证明疗效和安全性的黄金标准,但不同类型的研究设计根据自身特点适用于不同的研究目的和研究类型,本文对各国卫生技术评估中提交证据研究设计类型的要求进行总结,并以CADTH为例具体分析其应用情况,发现RCT仍是目前提交的主要证据类型,但越来越多的Ⅰ/Ⅱ期试验和包括真实世界证据在内的非RCT证据正逐渐参与到卫生决策中来,在慢病和癌症领域尤为明显。随着非RCT证据在数据整合、偏倚控制等方面的完善,相信其将会和高质量的RCT证据一同在卫生评估中发挥更重要的作用。     

A Model Program of Community‐Based Supports for Older Adults at Risk of Nursing Facility Placement

Transitioning an older adult into a nursing facility is a major life event for older adults (care recipients, CRs) and their family caregivers (CGs). This article describes the implementation of a community living program and presents findings on important health and well‐being indicators. One hundred ninety‐one participants aged 60 and older not eligible for or currently enrolled in Medicaid and meeting four risk domains (functional, health, cognitive/emotional, informal support system) were enrolled for the 10‐month program. Two evidence‐based interventions were blended into a comprehensive community‐based approach to long‐term care that included $750 per month for home care services. Measures were conducted at baseline and 6 and 12 months. Nine (6%) participants did not complete the program because of nursing facility admission. CRs had fewer physician visits (4.1 vs 7.3, P < .001), emergency department visits (0.3 vs 1.4, P < .001), hospital stays (0.4 vs 0.9, P < .001), and total nights in the hospital (0.8 vs 5.1, P < .001) at 12 months than at baseline. Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D) scores also improved significantly (6.8 vs 9.4, P < .001). CGs had improvements in CES‐D scores (5.9 vs 3.9, P < .001) and CG burden (14.7 s 12.6, P = .01) from baseline to 12 months. This multicomponent program improved the physical and mental health of CGs and CRs at risk of nursing facility placement. Future studies are needed to compare the overall placement rate to determine the success of diverting nursing facility placement in this population of older adults.     

Implementing newer agents for the management of castrate‐resistant prostate cancer: what is known and what is needed?

Men receiving androgen‐deprivation therapy will in time develop metastatic castrate‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Whilst effective treatment options for mCRPC have traditionally been limited, new agents are becoming available. Since 2010, the number and class of agents available to treat mCRPC has increased dramatically. As such, there is a need for clear guidance on the optimum treatment and sequence of treatments for mCRPC before and after chemotherapy. This evidence‐based statement, reflecting the views of the authors, provides suggestions on the continued relevance of conventional approaches to first‐ and second‐line treatment in mCRPC, the potential role of novel treatments, and factors that may influence the choice of hormonal agents and/or chemotherapy.     

The Evidence Base for Revascularisation of Chronic Total Occlusions

When patients with ischaemic heart disease are considered for revascularisation the Heart Team’s aim is to choose a therapy that will provide complete relief of angina for an acceptable procedural risk. Complete functional revascularisation of ischaemic myocardium is thus the goal and for this reason the presence of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) - which remain the most technically challenging lesions to revascularise percutaneously - is the most common reason for selecting coronary artery bypass surgery [1]. From the behaviour of Heart Teams it is clear that physicians believe that CTOs are important. Yet when faced with patients with CTOs for whom surgery appears excessive (e.g. nonproximal LAD) or too high risk, there remains a reluctance to undertake CTO PCI, despite significant recent advances in procedural success and safety and a considerable body of evidence supporting a survival benefit following successful CTO PCI. This article reviews the relationship between CTOs, symptoms of angina, ischaemia and left ventricular dysfunction and further explores the evidence relating their treatment to improved quality of life and prognosis in patients with these features.     

Oncology research in Saudi Arabia over a 10-year period: A synopsis

Objectives:To assess the quality and quantity of Saudi publications in oncology over a 10-year period.Methods:A systematic PubMed search was conducted between January 2008 and December 2017 to retrieve all Saudi oncology publications. Data about the articles was collected. The level of evidence (LOE) was independently assessed by 2 authors. Two 5-year periods (2008-2012 and 2013-2017) were compared using the relevant parameters. Clinicaltrials.gov was also searched for all oncology trials registered in Saudi Arabia.Results:A total of 839 publications met our inclusion criteria. The most common type of research was case series, totaling 32% of all publications. Clinical trials formed less than 2% of the total. The LOE was I, II, III, and IV in 0.3%, 2.1%, 58.4%, and 39.3% of the included publications, respectively. The LOE was the same in the 2 periods. There were more publications in international journals (p=0.004), more international collaborations (p=0.001), and higher journal impact factors (p=0.037) in 2013-2017 than in 2008-2012. Only 76 registered clinical trials were found in the Clinicaltrials.gov registry.Conclusion:Despite an increase in the number of Saudi publications in the field of oncology over time, the LOE did not change. There were, however, some improvements in the international collaboration and journal impact factor, as well as an increase in the number of studies published in international journals. These observations call for a national strategy to improve oncology research in Saudi Arabia.     

现代人体检测指标植入中医辨治体系探讨

现代人体检测仪器大量使用后,人体检测指标异常的出现对中医传统辨治理论体系、疗效评价、治疗诉求等方面产生巨大的冲击,导致中医学对现代检测指标的认知、治疗、疗效评价产生一些系列问题。因此,对现代人体检测指标异常进行系统而规范的中医辨治研究,探讨其中蕴含的病因病机信息,使之成为辨证依据、治疗靶的,进而指导中医临床处方与疗效评价,最终将现代人体检测指标植入中医辨治体系之中,是解决以上问题的关键途径。对现代人体检测指标的异常进行中医辨治学研究,可以丰富临床资料,拓展辨治范围,强化疾病防治,准确了解病情,加深病机认识,辅助中医诊断,彰显中医疗效,促进学术发展,具有重要的意义。