Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine.pdf

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine 65 questions may be conveyed by the observers to the moderators at intermissions. Indeed, the participants themselves are encouraged to generate new questions for group exploration. Throughout the sessions, an informal atmosphere is encouraged through proper seating arrangements and with exchange of personal experiences, jokes and anecdotes. Group norms about highly sensitive issues such as sexual behaviour and cultural values can then be explored. Subjects who cannot read or write can participate and with skilful moderation, the more reticent can contribute fully to the discussions (Morgan D (1988) Focus groups as qualitative research. Sage, London. Kreugerk RA (1988) Focus groups: a practical guide for applied research. Sage, London). Follow-up study (see a/so under Cohort study) A prospective study in which subjects are recruited and followed forward in time. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA of the United States is the country's food and drug regulatory authority. It sets standards which manufacturers are advised to adopt or which they must meet in order to obtain marketing authorization (see website www.fda.gov). (The) Fundamental economic problem (see Economic problem) Fundholding This refers to the scheme initiated by the UK Department of Health whereby primary care physicians (general practitioners or GPs) were able to volunteer to hold a budget with which to buy services for their patients. With a budget, they could determine allocation for the different types of services on offer and savings made in one area (e.g. expenditure on drugs) could be used elsewhere (e.g. services of a diabetes adviser or additional nurse). Savings could not be used for personal gain except indirectly such as through capital investments to improve their premises. By the end of 1996, over 50% of GPs were fundholders in some capacity. A recent report by the UK Audit Commission suggests that only in some 10% of GP fundholding practices had benefits been gained by patients. Fundholding is being reorganized into consortia or primary care groups
66 Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine for given geographical areas to care for patient groups of about 100 000 in size (DoH (1997) The new NHS. Cmd 3807. HMSO, London). Funnel plot This is a graphical method often used for identifying possible publication bias when undertaking a systematic overview. The effect measures are plotted against the corresponding sample sizes as exemplified in Figure 10. In the absence of publication bias, the points should be distributed in a roughly symmetric manner to outline the shape of an inverted funnel. Withholding publication of studies with small or no significant effects leads to truncation of the left side of the inverted funnel. Estimates of effect obtained by undertaking a meta-analysis of published studies will therefore tend to be too high. However, an asymmetric funnel plot does not necessarily indicate publication bias. It may be due to true heterogeneity or real differences in the effects between trials (Egger M, Smith GD, Schneider M, Minder C (1997) Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple graphical test. BMJ. 315: 629-34. Stuck AE, Rubenstein LZ, Wieland D (1998) Asymmetry detected in funnel plot was probably due to true heterogeneity. BMJ. 316: 469). Figure 10 Funnel plot
Page 2 and 3:
Dictionary of Evidence-based Medici
Page 4 and 5:
Preface This book was conceived at
Page 6 and 7:
A Ability to pay Ability to pay is
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Figure I Audit: Clinical audit cycl
Page 14 and 15:
B Balanced design In an experiment,
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21: Dictionary of Evidence-based Medici
Page 66 and 67: Figure 9 Concept of externality Dic
Page 72 and 73: G Game theory Game theory, first de
Page 86 and 87: I ICD (see International Classifica
Page 94 and 95: K Keynes, John Maynard (1883-1946)
Page 100 and 101: M Macroeconomics Macroeconomics is
Page 112 and 113: N N of I trial An N of 1 trial is a
Page 116 and 117: o OBM (see Opinion-based medicine)
Page 120 and 121:
Page 122 and 123:
Page 124 and 125:
Page 126 and 127:
Page 128 and 129:
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132 and 133:
Page 134 and 135:
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Figure 25 Measuring quality of life
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
Page 146 and 147:
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150 and 151:
S Scarcity Scarcity is often referr
Page 152 and 153:
Page 154 and 155:
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
T TDM (see Therapeutic drug monitor
Page 160 and 161:
Page 162 and 163:
u Unique value effect This term is
Page 164 and 165:
Page 166 and 167:
Page 168 and 169:
Page 170:
Z Z variate A random variable which
show all

Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine.pdf

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?