Articles: outcome-assessment-health-care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Apr 2013
Review Meta AnalysisConstipation in palliative care: what do we use as definitions and outcome measures?
Advances in the management of constipation in palliative care remain hindered by the lack of agreed-upon diagnostic criteria. ⋯ Constipation is a significant problem in palliative care; however, not having an agreed-upon definition limits research initiatives and the ability to apply these results clinically to people with constipation. Four domains are suggested as pivotal to the diagnosis: any life-long history of constipation (using the Rome Criteria), evaluation of physical changes that may cause or worsen constipation, the subjective sensation (such as feelings of incomplete defecation or bloating or fullness), and objective changes (such as frequency or consistency of stools).
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Gen Hosp Psychiatry · Mar 2013
Meta AnalysisImpact of delirium on clinical outcome in critically ill patients: a meta-analysis.
Delirium is prevalent in the intensive care unit (ICU) and has been associated with negative clinical outcomes. However, a quantitative and systematic assessment of published studies has not been conducted. ⋯ Delirium in critically ill patients is associated with higher mortality rate, more complications, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, and longer length of stay in ICU and hospital.
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
[Subgroup-specific therapy of low back pain: description and validity of two classification systems].
In spite of profound advances in the diagnosis and therapy, low back pain (LBP) remains one of the main challenges for health systems in western industrialized countries. Clinical trials and meta-analyses typically show heterogeneous evidence and small effect sizes. One explanation for this phenomenon is the heterogeneous nature of the population of patients with LBP, not adequately considered in clinical practice and research. Recent studies and one meta-analysis show that therapy which is specifically directed at well defined subgroups leads to improved effectiveness of interventions, especially for non-surgical interventions such as manual therapy or physiotherapy. ⋯ The reliability of the described classification systems is moderate to good, aspects of validity have been shown. Their implementation in clinical practice seems recommendable.
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Review Meta Analysis
Comparison of treatment effect sizes associated with surrogate and final patient relevant outcomes in randomised controlled trials: meta-epidemiological study.
To quantify and compare the treatment effect and risk of bias of trials reporting biomarkers or intermediate outcomes (surrogate outcomes) versus trials using final patient relevant primary outcomes. ⋯ Trials reporting surrogate primary outcomes are more likely to report larger treatment effects than trials reporting final patient relevant primary outcomes. This finding was not explained by differences in the risk of bias or characteristics of the two groups of trials.
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Review Meta Analysis
Functional capacity, physical activity and muscle strength assessment of individuals with non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review of instruments and their measurement properties.
The measurement properties of instruments used to assess functional capacity, physical activity and muscle strength in participants with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been systematically reviewed. ⋯ Currently there is a gap in the literature regarding the measurement properties of commonly used outcome measures in NSCLC participants, particularly reliability, measurement error and responsiveness. Further research needs to be conducted to determine the most suitable outcome measures for use in trials involving NSCLC participants.