scholarly journals Addressing barriers to evidence-based medicine in pediatric surgery: an introduction to the Canadian Association of Paediatric Surgeons Evidence-Based Resource

2022 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000332
Author(s):  
Viviane Grandpierre ◽  
Irina Oltean ◽  
Manvinder Kaur ◽  
Ahmed Nasr
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Pediatric Surgery ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Canadian Association ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Based Medicine

BackgroundPediatric surgical practice lags behind medicine in presence and use of evidence, primarily due to time constraints of using existing tools that are not specific to pediatric surgery, lack of sufficient patient data and unstructured pediatric surgery training methods.MethodWe developed, disseminated and tested the effectiveness of an evidence-based resource for pediatric surgeons and researchers that provides brief, informative summaries of quality-assessed systematic reviews and meta-analyses on conflicting pediatric surgery topics.ResultsResponses of 91 actively practicing surgeons who used the resource were analysed. The majority of participants found the resource useful (75%), improved their patient care (66.6%), and more than half (54.2%) found it useful in identifying research gaps. Almost all participants reported that the resource could be used as a teaching tool (93%).ConclusionLack of awareness of the resource is the primary barrier to its routine use, leading to potential calls for more active dissemination worldwide. Users of the Canadian Association of Paediatric Surgeons Evidence-Based Resource find that the summaries are useful, identify research gaps, help mitigate multiple barriers to evidence-based medicine, and may improve patient care.

scholarly journals Revisiting Statistics and Evidence-Based Medicine: On the Fallacy of the Effect Size Based on Correlation and Misconception of Contingency Tables

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Roussakow
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Binary Data ◽  
Contingency Tables ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Bias Analysis ◽  
Contingency Coefficient ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Based Medicine

Abstract BACKGROUND: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is in crisis, in part due to bad methods, which are understood as misuse of statistics that is considered correct in itself. The correctness of the basic statistics related to the effect size (ES) based on correlation (CBES) was questioned. METHODS: Monte Carlo simulation of two paired binary samples, mathematical analysis, conceptual analysis, bias analysis. RESULTS: Actual effect size and CBES are not related. CBES is a fallacy based on misunderstanding of correlation and ES and confusion with 2 × 2 tables that makes no distinction between gross crosstabs (GCTs) and contingency tables (CTs). This leads to misapplication of Pearson’s Phi, designed for CTs, to GCTs and confusion of the resulting gross Pearson Phi, or mean-square effect half-size, with the implied Pearson mean square contingency coefficient. Generalizing this binary fallacy to continuous data and the correlation in general (Pearson’s r) resulted in flawed equations directly expressing ES in terms of the correlation coefficient, which is impossible without including covariance, so these equations and the whole CBES concept are fundamentally wrong. misconception of contingency tables (MCT) is a series of related misconceptions due to confusion with 2 × 2 tables and misapplication of related statistics. Problems arising from these fallacies are discussed and the necessary changes to the corpus of statistics are proposed resolving the problem of correlation and ES in paired binary data. CONCLUSIONS: Two related common misconceptions in statistics have been exposed, CBES and MCT. The misconceptions are threatening because most of the findings from contingency tables, including meta-analyses, can be misleading. Since exposing these fallacies casts doubt on the reliability of the statistical foundations of EBM in general, we urgently need to revise them.

scholarly journals THERAPEUTIC METHODS IN CEREBRAL PALSY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-174
Author(s):  
Leila A. Pak ◽  
K. V. Zherdev ◽  
L. M. Kuzenkova ◽  
A. L. Kurenkov ◽  
B. I. Bursagova
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Vagal Stimulation ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Complementary Treatment ◽  
Epidural Stimulation ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Based Medicine

In the article the authors consider such methods of the alternative/complementary treatment of the cerebral palsy (CP), presented in the modern domestic and foreign literature, as metabolic (amino acid composites), metamer (I.A. Skvortsov), intravenous administration of baclofen, antiepileptic (vagal stimulation, levetiracetam), acupuncture, transcranial cerebral micropolarization, epidural stimulation, modified motion-induced restriction therapy (MMIRT), stem cell therapy, as well as some other complementary/palliative approaches to the correction of clinical manifestations of various forms of CP. The final part of the article presents the attitude of modern evidence-based medicine to the main methods of the alternative/complementary treatment of cerebral palsy. These data are based almost exclusively on international systematic reviews and relevant meta-analyses.

scholarly journals Pearls for Interpreting Neurosurgical Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Lessons From a Collaborative Effort

Neurosurgery ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor M Lu ◽  
Christopher S Graffeo ◽  
Avital Perry ◽  
Michael J Link ◽  
Fredric B Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Cranial Neuralgia ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Based Medicine ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the neurosurgical literature have surged in popularity over the last decade. It is our concern that, without a renewed effort to critically interpret and appraise these studies as high or low quality, we run the risk of the quality and value of evidence-based medicine in neurosurgery being misinterpreted. Correspondingly, we have outlined 4 major domains to target in interpreting neurosurgical systematic reviews and meta-analyses based on the lessons learned by a collaboration of clinicians and academics summarized as 4 pearls. The domains of (1) heterogeneity, (2) modeling, (3) certainty, and (4) bias in neurosurgical systematic reviews and meta-analyses were identified as aspects in which the authors’ approaches have changed over time to improve robustness and transparency. Examples of how and why these pearls were adapted were provided in areas of cranial neuralgia, spine, pediatric, and neuro-oncology to demonstrate how neurosurgical readers and writers may improve their interpretation of these domains. The incorporation of these pearls into practice will empower neurosurgical academics to effectively interpret systematic reviews and meta-analyses, enhancing the quality of our evidence-based medicine literature while maintaining a critical focus on the needs of the individual patients in neurosurgery.

scholarly journals Current Status of Cell-Based Therapy in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 8999
Author(s):  
Frantisek Jaluvka ◽  
Peter Ihnat ◽  
Juraj Madaric ◽  
Adela Vrtkova ◽  
Jaroslav Janosek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Critical Limb Ischemia ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Limb Ischemia ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Cell Based Therapy ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Based Medicine

(1) Background: The treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is focused on improving perfusion and oxygenation in the affected limb. Standard revascularization methods include bypass surgery, endovascular interventional procedures, or hybrid revascularization. Cell-based therapy can be an alternative strategy for patients with no-option critical limb ischemia who are not eligible for endovascular or surgical procedures. (2) Aims: The aim of this narrative review was to provide an up-to-date critical overview of the knowledge and evidence-based medicine data on the position of cell therapy in the treatment of PAD. The current evidence on the cell-based therapy is summarized and future perspectives outlined, emphasizing the potential of exosomal cell-free approaches in patients with critical limb ischemia. (3) Methods: Cochrane and PubMed databases were searched for keywords “critical limb ischemia and cell therapy”. In total, 589 papers were identified, 11 of which were reviews and 11 were meta-analyses. These were used as the primary source of information, using cross-referencing for identification of additional papers. (4) Results: Meta-analyses focusing on cell therapy in PAD treatment confirm significantly greater odds of limb salvage in the first year after the cell therapy administration. Reported odds ratio estimates of preventing amputation being mostly in the region 1.6–3, although with a prolonged observation period, it seems that the odds ratio can grow even further. The odds of wound healing were at least two times higher when compared with the standard conservative therapy. Secondary endpoints of the available meta-analyses are also included in this review. Improvement of perfusion and oxygenation parameters in the affected limb, pain regression, and claudication interval prolongation are discussed. (5) Conclusions: The available evidence-based medicine data show that this technique is safe, associated with minimum complications or adverse events, and effective.

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