Journal of evaluation in clinical practice
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Despite the widespread recommendation to engage in therapeutic exercise for the treatment of low back pain (LBP), there is conflicting evidence regarding clinical outcomes and effectiveness. Poor methodological quality may be to blame for reducing the overall strength of evidence for this intervention, yet little is known about the difficulties researchers encounter when designing and implementing their study methods. ⋯ Statistical power, study length and/or follow-up, and inclusion criteria were the three most commonly reported categories of SALs in exercise trials for LBP. Lack of long-term follow-up, inadequate sample size and inclusion of specific populations were the most common subcategories. Research protocols recognizing and avoiding these limitations will enhance the overall quality of evidence of exercise therapy trials for LBP.
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Low-value radiological imaging threatens patient safety and efficient use of limited health resources. It is important to evaluate measures for reducing low-value utilisation, to learn and to improve. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to qualitatively evaluate a pilot intervention for reducing low-value imaging in Norway. ⋯ The pilot intervention was deemed acceptable, feasible, engaging and relevant. Specific training in the use of the new procedure was suggested to improve the intervention. The simple design, as well as the positive acceptance demonstrated and the few resources needed, make the pilot intervention and methodology highly relevant for other settings or when aiming to reduce the number of other low-value radiology examinations.
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Review Comparative Study
(Cost-)effectiveness of personalised multimodal physiotherapy compared to surgery in patients with cervical radiculopathy: A systematic review.
Cervical radiculopathy is initially typically managed conservatively. Surgery is indicated when conservative management fails or with severe/progressive neurological signs. Personalised multimodal physiotherapy could be a promising conservative strategy. However, aggregated evidence on the (cost-)effectiveness of personalised multimodal physiotherapy compared to surgery with/without post-operative physiotherapy is lacking. ⋯ Considering the clinical importance of accurate management recommendations and the current low level of certainty, high-quality cost-effectiveness studies are needed.
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Multicenter Study
The impact of a patient-centred care pathway for patients treated with oral anticancer drugs: A multicentre pre-posttest study in Flanders.
In the Collaborative Network To Take Responsibility for Oral Anticancer Therapy (CONTACT) project, an evidence-based and patient-centred care(PCC) pathway was implemented in 12 oncology departments in Flanders. The care pathway was developed in cocreation by an interdisciplinary project team, and tailored to the local hospital context. ⋯ This study showed small, however, no significant improvements in the quality of PCC and other patient outcomes. The lack of significant changes can be attributed to the complexity of the care pathway development, poor or unstable implementation of the care pathway and limited changes in follow-up care. More insight in the actual implementation of the care pathway and potential contextual factors influencing its effect is needed to help understand the outcomes of this pre-posttest study.
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Retraction Of Publication
Retraction: "How the adverse effect counting window affected vaccine safety calculations in randomised trials of COVID-19 vaccines".
RETRACTION: "Re: How the adverse effect counting window affected vaccine safety calculations in randomised trials of COVID-19 vaccines," by H. Daungsupawong and V. ⋯ The above article, published online on 26 February 2024 in Wiley Online Library, in Volume 30, Issue 4, has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Karen Grimmer and Michael Loughlin; and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed as this Letter to the Editor lacks relevant scientific discussion and the statements in this letter are not sufficiently supported by references to the literature.