How to read a paper : the basics of evidence-based medicine / Trisha Greenhalgh.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Greenhalgh, Trisha, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Journalism, Medical.

Research.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (285 pages): illustrations, tables

Edition:

Fifth edition.

Place of Publication:

West Sussex, England : John Wiley and Sons, 2014.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

The best-selling introduction to evidence-based medicine, In a clear and engaging style, How to Read a Paper demystifies evidence-based medicine and explains how to critically appraise published research and also put the findings into practice. An ideal introduction to evidence-based medicine, How to Read a Paper explains what to look for in different types of papers and how best to evaluate the literature and then implement the findings in an evidence-based, patient-centred way. Helpful checklist summaries of the key points in each chapter provide a useful framework for applying the principles of evidence-based medicine in everyday practice. This fifth edition has been fully updated with new examples and references to reflect recent developments and current practice. It also includes two new chapters on applying evidence-based medicine with patients and on the common criticisms of evidence-based medicine and responses. How to Read a Paper is a standard text for medical and nursing schools as well as a friendly guide for everyone wanting to teach or learn the basics of evidence-based medicine. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Why read papers at all? 1

Does evidence-based medicine' simply mean 'reading papers in medical journals'? 1

Why do people sometimes groan when you mention evidence-based medicine? 4

Before you start: formulate the problem 10

References 13

Chapter 2 Searching the literature 15

What are you looking for? 16

Levels upon levels of evidence 17

Synthesised sources: systems, summaries and syntheses 17

Pre-appraised sources: synopses of systematic reviews and primary studies 21

Specialised resources 22

Primary studies - tackling the jungle 23

One-stop shopping: federated search engines 24

Asking for help and asking around 25

Online tutorials for effective searching 26

References 26

Chapter 3 Getting your bearings: what is this paper about? 28

The science of 'trashing' papers 28

Three preliminary questions to get your bearings 30

Randomised controlled trials 34

Cohort studies 38

Case-control studies 39

Cross-sectional surveys 40

Case reports 40

The traditional hierarchy of evidence 41

A note on ethical considerations 42

References 43

Chapter 4 Assessing methodological quality 45

Was the study original? 45

Whom is the study about? 46

Was the design of the study sensible? 47

Was systematic bias avoided or minimised? 49

Was assessment 'blind'? 53

Were preliminary statistical questions addressed? 54

Summing up 57

References 58

Chapter 5 Statistics for the non-statistician 60

How can non-statisticians evaluate statistical tests? 60

Have the authors set the scene correctly? 62

Paired data, tails and outliers 68

Correlation, regression and causation 70

Probability and confidence 72

The bottom line 74

Summary 76

References 76

Chapter 6 Papers that report trials of drug treatments and other simple interventions 78

'Evidence' and marketing 78

Making decisions about therapy 80

Surrogate endpoints 81

What information to expect in a paper describing a randomised controlled trial: the CONSORT statement 84

Getting worthwhile evidence out of a pharmaceutical representative 86

References 88

Chapter 7 Papers that report trials of complex interventions 90

Complex interventions 90

Ten questions to ask about a paper describing a complex intervention 92

References 97

Chapter 8 Papers that report diagnostic or screening tests 99

Ten men in the dock 99

Validating diagnostic tests against a gold standard 100

Ten questions to ask about a paper that claims to validate a diagnostic or screening test 105

Likelihood ratios 110

Clinical prediction rules 111

References 113

Chapter 9 Papers that summarise other papers (systematic reviews and meta-analyses) 116

When is a review systematic? 116

Evaluating systematic reviews 119

Meta-analysis for the non-statistician 124

Explaining heterogeneity 128

New approaches to systematic review 132

References 132

Chapter 10 Papers that tell you what to do (guidelines) 135

The great guidelines debate 135

How can we help ensure that evidence-based guidelines are followed? 138

Ten questions to ask about a clinical guideline 141

References 148

Chapter 11 Papers that tell you what things cost (economic analyses) 150

What is economic analysis? 150

Measuring costs and benefits of health interventions 151

References 162

Chapter 12 Papers that go beyond numbers (qualitative research) 164

What is qualitative research? 164

Evaluating papers that describe qualitative research 168

References 176

Chapter 13 Papers that report questionnaire research 178

The rise and rise of questionnaire research 178

Ten questions to ask about a paper describing a questionnaire study 179

References 188

Chapter 14 Papers that report quality improvement case studies 190

What are quality improvement studies - and how should we research them? 190

Ten questions to ask about a paper describing a quality improvement initiative 193

References 200

Chapter 15 Getting evidence into practice 202

Why are health professionals slow to adopt evidence-based practice? 202

How much avoidable suffering is caused by failing to implement evidence? 204

How can we influence health professionals' behaviour to promote evidence-based practice? 205

What does an 'evidence-based organisation' look like? 210

How can we help organisations develop the appropriate structures, systems and values to support evidence-based practice? 212

References 217

Chapter 16 Applying evidence with patients 221

The patient perspective 221

PROMs 223

Shared decision-making 224

Option grids 226

n of 1 trials and other individualised approaches 229

References 230

Chapter 17 Criticisms of evidence-based medicine 233

What's wrong with EBM when it's done badly? 233

What's wrong with EBM when it's done well? 235

Why is 'evidence-based policymaking' so hard to achieve? 238

References 240.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.

Description based on print version record.

Local Notes:

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest, 2015. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest affiliated libraries.

Other Format:

Print version: Greenhalgh, Trisha. How to read a paper : the basics of evidence-based medicine.

ISBN:

9781118801116

OCLC:

858975738

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.