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Evaluative Research (evaluative + research)
Selected AbstractsQUALITY MATTERS: FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATIVE RESEARCHCRIMINOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY, Issue 3 2006PETER R. JONES First page of article [source] Randomized controlled trials in schizophrenia: a critical perspective on the literatureACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2002S. Gilbody Objective:,The randomized trial provides an opportunity to minimize the inclusion of biases in the evaluation of interventions in psychiatry. Difficulties arise, however, when applying their results to `real world' clinical practice and decision-making. We, therefore, examined the real world applicability of schizophrenia trials. Method:,A narrative overview of the content and quality of the randomized trials relevant to the care of those with schizophrenia is provided. Results:,Complex, explanatory, under-powered randomized drug trials dominate evaluative research in schizophrenia. Conclusion:,Explanatory designs are a necessary but insufficient step in establishing the true worth of interventions in schizophrenia. Research from other spheres of mental health and wider health care suggest that pragmatic trials are feasible. This design allows large scale trials to be conducted which include patients which we would recognize from routine practice and which record outcomes which are of genuine interest to decision-makers. [source] The impact of residential respite care on the behaviour of older people with dementia: literature reviewINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OLDER PEOPLE NURSING, Issue 1 2007Christine C. Neville RN, FANZCMHN Aim., The aim of this review was to examine the impact of residential respite care on the behaviour displayed by older people with dementia. Background., Relocation of older people with dementia to a different care setting could have a negative impact on their behaviour. If such a response is anticipated, a short-term admission to a residential aged care facility for respite care would appear to be futile for the older person and their home caregiver. Therefore, it is important to know what the outcomes of residential respite care are in relation to behaviour for older people with dementia. Methods., A literature search was undertaken and papers emerged from a range of disciplines. The search terms ,respite'; ,respite care'; ,residential respite care'; ,short-stay', ,short-term', ,overnight stays/admissions', ,behav*' and various combinations of these terms were used to find relevant publications in English from Ageline, CINAHL, Medline and, Psychinfo databases dating from 1966. Other key publications were located when searching through the reference lists of retrieved publications. A limited body of literature on residential respite care for older people with dementia was revealed. Results., Six studies were identified, which met the criteria of residential respite care as the intervention and behaviour as an outcome. Conclusions., The studies had a variety of methodological limitations and produced contradictory findings. The strength of the studies was the reporting of outcomes for respite recipients who are usually overlooked in the outcomes for respite research. Relevance to clinical practice., Residential respite care has great anecdotal support but more empirical and evaluative research is needed on outcomes for the respite recipients. [source] Is children's choice in health care rhetoric or reality?JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 4 2008A scoping review Abstract Title.,Is children's choice in health care rhetoric or reality? A scoping review. Aim., This paper is a report of a scoping review examining children and young people's health services with respect to choice in order to inform future development of choice initiatives. Background., The importance of including children and young people in the choice agenda reflects the increasing acknowledgement that, individually and collectively, they are important consumers of health care in their own right. Data sources., A scoping review of all major health and medical research databases was undertaken using current guidelines to identify original relevant research papers and grey literature sources from 1990 to 2006. Review methods., Reference Manager software was used to collate, summarize, categorize, store and retrieve the search results. Papers meeting the inclusion criteria were read in full and descriptively summarized using a data extraction sheet. Each paper was repeatedly selected using a snowballing approach until saturation was reached. Results., Children and young people want more say in the planning and development of appropriate hospital and community health services. However, little evaluative research was found about whether these choices are acted upon and lead to more responsive services. Conclusion., Choice for children and young people is viewed as a positive development in health care and many innovative examples of their involvement in decision-making were found. These illustrated that, given the opportunity, children and young people are willing and able to make decisions about their healthcare services. However, there is a long way to go before the rhetoric of the choice agenda is realized. [source] Rethinking the interface between ecology and society.JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2008The case of the cockle controversy in the Dutch Wadden Sea Summary 1Applied ecology, like conservation research, may deal with societal issues if its scientifically based interventions have societal consequences. Human utilization plays a significant role in many ecosystems, so conservation ecologists often have to act on the interface between science and society, where controversies may arise. 2Using insights from science and technology studies, we have analysed the 15-year controversy on the ecological effects of cockle fishing in the Dutch Wadden Sea, which began around 1990 and involved nature protection and shellfish organizations, as well as several leading Dutch ecologists, in a heated debate. 3During this controversy, evaluative research on the ecological effects of cockle fishing was undertaken by a consortium of institutes in order to contribute to the process of political decision-making by the Dutch government on cockle fishery in this area. In addition to conservational and commercial interests, ecological research itself became part of the controversy. 4The research projects on the effects of cockle fishing during this controversy are examples of societally contextualized science, implying that interests and societal disputes are intertwined with scientific arguments. We have applied a dynamic model of contextualization in which societal stakes and scientific uncertainty are considered as the main factors determining the different contexts in which conservation research functions. 5Synthesis and applications. Conservation research, whether it is fundamental or managerially orientated, is related to greater societal aims and interests and might easily face more or less complex societally contextualized situations. Such situations imply extended responsibilities for scientists. Not only is there a need for sound science, but also for a sound way of interacting and communicating with the societal environment. Some elements of such a notion of extended accountability are presented. [source] Patient ethnicity and three psychiatric intensive care units compared: the Tompkins Acute Ward StudyJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 3 2008L. BOWERS rmn phd Psychiatric care units provide care to disturbed patients in a context of higher security and staffing levels. Although such units are numerous, few systematic comparisons have been made, and there are indications that ethnic minority groups may be over-represented. The aim of this study was to compare the rates of adverse incidents and patterns of usage of three psychiatric intensive care units. The study used a triangulation or multi-method design, bringing together data from official statistics, local audit and interviews conducted with staff. Intensive care patients were more likely to be young, male and suffering a psychotic disorder, as compared with general acute ward patients. Caribbean patients were twice as likely, and Asian patients half as likely, to receive intensive care (age, gender and diagnosis controlled). There were large differences in service levels, staffing, team functioning and adverse incidents between the three units. Various aspects of physical security were important in preventing absconds. More evaluative research is required in order to define effective service levels, and to explore the nature of the interaction between ethnicity and inpatient care provision during acute illness. [source] A review of evaluation outcomes of web-based continuing medical educationMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 6 2005Vernon R Curran Introduction, The Internet and worldwide web have expanded opportunities for the provision of a flexible, convenient and interactive form of continuing medical education (CME). Larger numbers of doctors are accessing and using the Internet to locate and seek medical information. It has been suggested that a significant proportion of this usage is directly related to questions that arise from patient care. A variety of Internet technologies are being used to provide both asynchronous and synchronous forms of web-based CME. Various models for designing and facilitating web-based CME learning have also been reported. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature and characteristics of the web-based CME evaluative outcomes reported in the peer-reviewed literature. Methods, A search of Medline was undertaken and the level of evaluative outcomes reported was categorised using Kirkpatrick's model for levels of summative evaluation. Results, The results of this analysis revealed that the majority of evaluative research on web-based CME is based on participant satisfaction data. There was limited research demonstrating performance change in clinical practices and there were no studies reported in the literature that demonstrated that web-based CME was effective in influencing patient or health outcomes. Discussion, The findings suggest an important need to examine in greater detail the nature and characteristics of those web-based learning technologies, environments and systems which are most effective in enhancing practice change and ultimately impacting patient and health outcomes. This is particularly important as the Internet grows in popularity as a medium for knowledge transfer. [source] Meeting the challenges of an aging workforceAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2008Michael Silverstein MD Abstract Background Demographic, labor market and economic forces are combining to produce increases in the number and percentage of U.S. workers 55 and older. In some ways these workers will be our most skilled and productive employees but in others the most vulnerable. Methods The literature on aging and work was reviewed, including demographic trends, physical and cognitive changes, safety and performance, work ability, and retirement patterns. Results and Conclusions Older workers have more serious, but less frequent, workplace injuries and illnesses than younger ones. There is evidence that many of these problems can be prevented and their consequences reduced by anticipating the physical and cognitive changes of age. Many employers are aware that such efforts are necessary, but most have not yet addressed them. There is a need for implementation and evaluative research of programs and policies with four dimensions: the work environment, work arrangements and work-life balance, health promotion and disease prevention, and social support. Employers who establish age-friendly workplaces that promote and support the work ability of employees as they age may gain in safety, productivity, competitiveness, and sustainable business practices. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:269,280, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||