Criteria for assessing research quality in the humanities: a Delphi study among scholars of English literature, German literature and art history

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 369-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Hug ◽  
M. Ochsner ◽  
H.-D. Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Study ◽  
Art History ◽  
English Literature ◽  
German Literature ◽  
Research Quality

Cure of Interstitial Cystitis and Non-Ulcerating Hunner’s Ulcer by Cardinal/Uterosacral Ligament Repair

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Kay Scheffler ◽  
Oliver W. Hakenberg ◽  
Peter Petros
Keyword(s):  
Interstitial Cystitis ◽  
Uterine Prolapse ◽  
English Literature ◽  
German Literature ◽  
Uterosacral Ligament ◽  
Original Intention ◽  
Uterosacral Ligaments ◽  
Bladder Symptoms ◽  
Posterior Fornix ◽  
The Relationship

A serendipitous cure in a 73-year-old woman of Hunner’s ulcer, urge, nocturia, apical prolapse by a tissue fixation system tensioned minisling (TFS) which reinforced the cardinal, and uterosacral ligaments (USLs) led us to analyse the relationship between Hunner’s ulcer and known pain conditions associated with USL laxity. The original intention was to cure the “posterior fornix syndrome” (PFS), uterine prolapse, and associated pain and bladder symptoms by USL repair. A speculum inserted preoperatively into the posterior fornix alleviated pain and urge symptoms, by mechanically supporting USLs. Hunner’s ulcer, along with pain and other PFS symptoms were cured by USL repair. The concept of USL laxity causing chronic pelvic pain and bladder problems is not new. It was published in the German literature by Heinrich Martius in 1938 and by Petros in the English literature in 1993. These findings raise important questions. As PFS symptoms are identical with those of interstitial cystitis (IC), are PFS and IC similar conditions? If so, then patients with IC who have a positive speculum test are at least theoretically, potentially curable by USL repair. These questions need to be explored.

Malignant Degeneration of Nonirradiated Juvenile Laryngeal Papillomatosis

1976 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Shapiro ◽  
Frank I. Marlowe ◽  
James Butcher
Keyword(s):  
World Literature ◽  
English Literature ◽  
German Literature ◽  
Malignant Degeneration ◽  
Laryngeal Papillomatosis ◽  
The World

Malignant degeneration in nonirradiated juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis is exceedingly rare. Review of the world literature reveals one case in the English literature and two in the German literature. A 23-year-old patient, representing the youngest reported case in the English literature, is presented.

scholarly journals Delirium researchers’ perspectives of the challenges in delirium biomarker research: A qualitative study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0243254
Author(s):  
Ingrid Amgarth-Duff ◽  
Annmarie Hosie ◽  
Gideon A. Caplan ◽  
Meera Agar
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Study ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Quality Of Reporting ◽  
Clear Vision ◽  
Biomarker Research ◽  
Collaborative Efforts ◽  
Improved Methods

Background Despite the prevalence and impact of delirium, its pathophysiology remains unclear. In order to advance this field of research, robust scientific methodology is required, yet quality of reporting in this field of research has been highly inconsistent. Delirium biomarker research poses several challenges, none of which have been documented in the literature before. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of delirium researchers about key methodological issues in delirium biomarker research. Methods Following a Delphi study with delirium experts resulting in 60 recommendations for reporting delirium biomarker studies, semi-structured interviews with international delirium researchers were conducted. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim, followed by thematic analysis of the qualitative data. Results Fifteen participants were interviewed between August and November 2019. Most were male (n = 12; 75%), clinician researchers (n = 13; 86%), and had more than ten years’ experience in conducting delirium research (n = 9; 60%). Analysis revealed two major themes and ten sub-themes, outlining key considerations to advance the field of delirium biomarker research. The major themes were: 1) Practical and scientific challenges of delirium biomarker research: stagnation versus driving improved methods and reporting; and 2) Valuing delirium research through investment and collaboration. Conclusion Findings identified a range of factors that contribute to the practical and ethical challenges of conducting delirium biomarker research, which have not previously been explicitly acknowledged or reported. A clear vision for collaborative efforts to enhance research quality for improved impact was also presented by the delirium researchers. This work complements the preceding Delphi and together these studies provide an in-depth understanding of what is needed in the field to inform and improve methods and reporting of delirium biomarker research.

Therapeutic recreation at camp: A Delphi study identifying important elements

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
W. Thomas Means, MS, CTRS ◽  
Steven Simpson, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Study ◽  
Therapeutic Recreation ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Summer Camps ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Competency Assessment ◽  
Individuals With Disabilities ◽  
Delphi Approach ◽  
Risk Management Program

For many individuals with disabilities, specialized camps offer intentional recreational activities designed to meet specific goals. The purpose of this study was to identify the most important elements of Therapeutic Recreation (TR) when applied to residential summer camps for individuals with disabilities. This study used a panel of experts using a Delphi approach. Experts initially identified 29 elements and in subsequent rounds provided ratings and definitions of each element. Statistical analysis identified nine elements as most important: Planning, Evaluation, Socialization, Implementation, Staff Qualifications & Competency Assessment, Management, Prevention, Safety Planning, & Risk Management, Program Evaluation & Research, Quality Improvement. Identifying key elements is critical in developing a framework for future research, as well as justifying TR service and prioritizing which elements should be considered when creating a TR camp program.

scholarly journals CONCEPTUALIZATION OF THE NOTION “MAGICAL REALISM” IN GERMAN LITERATURE

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (193) ◽  
pp. 252-259
Author(s):  
Svitlana Prytoliuk ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Literary Criticism ◽  
Latin American ◽  
National Socialism ◽  
Magical Realism ◽  
English Literature ◽  
German Literature ◽  
German History ◽  
Neue Sachlichkeit ◽  
Real Objects ◽  
The Moment

The article is devoted to the study of magical realism in German literary criticism, the origins of the term and its conceptual principles are considered. The author of the article relies on the research of German scientists, in particular M. Scheffel, D. Kirchner, H. Roland, T.W. Leine, M. Niehaus, J. Schuster and notes the differences and contradictions in the interpretation of the term, the vagueness of the concept and its heterogeneity. It is emphasized that the period of formation of the magic-realistic method of writing in Germany in the historical perspective generally covers the period from 1920 to 1960 and includes the beginning of the era of National Socialism and the Second World War. In German literature, the term was not immediately established, its assertion and dissemination were hampered by several factors: first, its contradiction, because it combines semantically opposite concepts – “realism”, which directly correlates with reality, the true image of reality, and “magical”, based on the supernatural, fantastic, reaching beyond reality; second, the moment of its origin falls on a rather complex and contradictory period of German history, which is reluctantly mentioned or silenced; third, magical realism has sometimes been mistakenly identified with the notion of “Neue Sachlichkeit”. Analysis of all factors shows that the origin and formation of the magic-realistic method in German literature has its own characteristics and uniqueness and differs from the world-famous examples of Latin American or English literature. As a result, the author notes that German magical realism is historically determined and in many of its examples reflects the traumatic postwar experience with a pronounced inrospectivity and humanistic orientation. As an aesthetic concept, magical realism expands the boundaries of realism: by depicting the objective world in its real dimensions, it focuses its gaze on the unreality hidden behind real objects.

VP31 Searching Non-English Literature For HTA Reports May Be Unnecessary

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (S1) ◽  
pp. 83-84
Author(s):  
Lisa Schell ◽  
Elke Hausner ◽  
Lina Rodenhäuser ◽  
Oliver Assall ◽  
Anke Schulz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
English Literature ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
German Literature ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Limited Time ◽  
New Information ◽  
Literature Searches ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionCurrently, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) does not restrict literature searches by language. Given limited resources, it is unclear whether the effort put into screening and translating studies published in non-English and non-German (nEnG) languages yields much new information when compared to including only English and German literature. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the impact of nEnG literature on the conclusion of IQWiG's health technology assessments (HTAs).MethodsWe checked for seventy-two IQWiG HTAs (all non-drug intervention HTAs published until August 2018 and three additional HTAs on drugs) whether they included nEnG studies. For all HTAs including at least one nEnG study, we analyzed whether the statistical significance would have changed for any endpoint without the respective nEnG study(ies). If no endpoint was impacted by a nEnG study, we classified the study as non-relevant to the HTA's conclusion and specified a reason for this.ResultsOf seventy-two HTAs, twenty-nine (40 percent) included a total of eighty-three nEnG publications). Three HTAs were impacted by the inclusion of altogether seven Chinese publications. For one HTA on systemic therapy, five endpoints’ conclusions were changed; for the other two HTAs, the statistical significance would have changed for one endpoint each. The remaining seventy-six publications (included in sixty-nine HTAs) were judged as non-relevant to the HTA's conclusion, the most prominent reason being “meta-analysis would have had the same result without respective study” (44 percent of nEnG publications).ConclusionsOnly three of seventy-two HTAs (4 percent) were impacted by nEnG publications, the changes being minimal for two of these. When faced with limited time or personnel resources, searching only for English and German publications may be sufficient, especially when generalizability issues are a possible concern.

scholarly journals Improving outcome reporting in clinical trial reports and protocols: study protocol for the Instrument for reporting Planned Endpoints in Clinical Trials (InsPECT)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy J. Butcher ◽  
Andrea Monsour
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Guideline Development ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Consensus Meeting ◽  
Reporting Guideline ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Outcome Reporting ◽  
Trial Protocols ◽  
Implementation And Dissemination

Background: Inadequate and poor quality outcome reporting in clinical trials is a well-documented problem that impedes the ability of researchers to evaluate, replicate, synthesize and build upon study findings and impacts evidence-based decision making by patients, clinicians, and policy makers. To facilitate harmonized and transparent reporting of outcomes in trial protocols and published reports, the Instrument for reporting Planned Endpoints in Clinical Trials (InsPECT), is being developed. The final product will provide unique InsPECT Extensions to the SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials) and CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) reporting guidelines.Methods: The InsPECT CONSORT and SPIRIT Extensions will be developed in accordance with the methodological framework created by the EQUATOR (Enhancing Quality and Transparency of Health Research Quality) Network for reporting guideline development. Development will consist of: (1) the creation of an initial list of candidate outcome reporting items synthesized from expert consultations and a scoping review of existing guidance for reporting outcomes in trial protocols and reports; (2) a three-round international Delphi study to identify additional candidate items and assess candidate item importance on a nine-point Likert scale, completed by trial report and protocol authors, systematic review authors, biostatisticians and epidemiologists, reporting guideline developers, clinicians, journal editors, and research ethics board representatives; and (3) an in-person expert consensus meeting to finalize the set of essential outcome reporting items for trial protocols and reports, respectively. The consensus meeting discussions will be independently facilitated and informed by the empirical evidence identified in the primary literature and through the opinions (aggregate rankings and comments) collected via the Delphi study. An integrated knowledge translation approach will be used throughout InsPECT development to facilitate implementation and dissemination, in addition to standard post-development activities. Discussion: InsPECT will provide evidence-informed and consensus-based standards focused on outcome reporting in clinical trials that can be applied across diverse disease areas, study populations, and outcomes. InsPECT will support the standardization of trial outcome reporting, which will maximize trial usability, reduce bias, foster trial replication, improve trial design and execution, and ultimately reduce research waste and help improve patient outcomes.

scholarly journals Evidence-based recommendations for economic evaluations in spine surgery: study protocol for a Delphi consensus

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e052988
Author(s):  
Ruud Droeghaag ◽  
Valérie N E Schuermans ◽  
Sem M M Hermans ◽  
Anouk Y J M Smeets ◽  
Inge J M H Caelers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Spine Surgery ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Delphi Panel ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Expert Group ◽  
Consensus Statements

IntroductionConsidering the rising global healthcare expenses, economic evaluations are more important than ever. Even though the number of studies regarding costs and cost-effectiveness is increasing, the quality of these studies remains relatively low. This is mainly caused by abundant heterogeneity in methods used for determining, calculating and reporting cost data, despite current general guidelines for the conduct of economic evaluations. Disease-specific recommendations for the conduct of economic evaluations in the field of spine surgery, as complement to existing general guidelines, will ameliorate overall research quality, comparability and interpretability and thus, the overall quality. We aim to provide expert-based recommendations for the design, conduct, and reporting of economic evaluations in spine surgery.Methods and analysisA modified Delphi study will be conducted to formulate expert-based recommendations. The following steps will be taken:(1) The conduct of a systematic review to identify relevant publications and identify relevant authors. Formation of an expert group and a Delphi-panel. (2) Drafting of statements based on articles included in the systematic literature review. Validation of drafted statements by the expert group. Step 2 can be repeated up to three times, statements can be discarded and adjusted in these rounds. Statements with more than 75% agreement will be accepted as consensus statements. (3) Validation of statements by the Delphi-panel. (4) Final recommendations.Ethics and disseminationThe underlying work is based on existing literature and published data and does not include participation of patients, and thus does not require ethical review approval. The final recommendations are intended for (clinical) researchers in the field of cost-effectiveness in spine surgery. The Delphi method ensures that the final output reflects the opinions of international participants and gives insight in the adherence level to the recommendations. The aim is to reach uniformity in design, conduct and reporting of these studies, as is currently lacking. This will provide a solid basis to determine cost-effectiveness of spine surgeries and consequently aid to limit the rising healthcare costs. The findings of this study and the final recommendations will be disseminated in conferences and seminars and will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal.

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