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Acta Medica Portuguesa Mar 2019There has been an increase in the use of systematic review as a research methodology to compile and analyze large datasets of existing studies. With this increase, the... (Review)
Review
There has been an increase in the use of systematic review as a research methodology to compile and analyze large datasets of existing studies. With this increase, the recommendations to conduct this type of research also increased. The aim of this article is to provide a guide for understanding and/or undertaking a systematic review for publication across all stages of the review process. When doing a systematic review of the literature the authors become knowledgeable of the subject and, although time-consuming, they can develop a set of skills including literature research and scientific writing. A systematic review, compared to primary research, requires relatively few resources, allowing clinicians not normally involved in research to produce clinically relevant, high-quality articles.
Topics: Research Design; Systematic Reviews as Topic
PubMed: 30946795
DOI: 10.20344/amp.11923 -
Research in Nursing & Health Feb 2017Qualitative description (QD) is a term that is widely used to describe qualitative studies of health care and nursing-related phenomena. However, limited discussions... (Review)
Review
Qualitative description (QD) is a term that is widely used to describe qualitative studies of health care and nursing-related phenomena. However, limited discussions regarding QD are found in the existing literature. In this systematic review, we identified characteristics of methods and findings reported in research articles published in 2014 whose authors identified the work as QD. After searching and screening, data were extracted from the sample of 55 QD articles and examined to characterize research objectives, design justification, theoretical/philosophical frameworks, sampling and sample size, data collection and sources, data analysis, and presentation of findings. In this review, three primary findings were identified. First, although there were some inconsistencies, most articles included characteristics consistent with the limited available QD definitions and descriptions. Next, flexibility or variability of methods was common and effective for obtaining rich data and achieving understanding of a phenomenon. Finally, justification for how a QD approach was chosen and why it would be an appropriate fit for a particular study was limited in the sample and, therefore, in need of increased attention. Based on these findings, recommendations include encouragement to researchers to provide as many details as possible regarding the methods of their QD studies so that readers can determine whether the methods used were reasonable and effective in producing useful findings. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Topics: Humans; Qualitative Research; Research Design
PubMed: 27686751
DOI: 10.1002/nur.21768 -
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in... Jul 2021Randomized controlled trials and Mendelian randomization studies are two study designs that provide randomized evidence in human biological and medical research. Both... (Review)
Review
Randomized controlled trials and Mendelian randomization studies are two study designs that provide randomized evidence in human biological and medical research. Both exploit the power of randomization to provide unconfounded estimates of causal effect. However, randomized trials and Mendelian randomization studies have very different study designs and scientific objectives. As a result, despite sometimes being referred to as "nature's randomized trial," a Mendelian randomization study cannot be used to replace a randomized trial but instead provides complementary information. In this review, we explain the similarities and differences between randomized trials and Mendelian randomization studies, and suggest several ways that Mendelian randomization can be used to directly inform and improve the design of randomized trials illustrated with practical examples. We conclude by describing how Mendelian randomization studies can employ the principles of trial design to be framed as "naturally randomized trials" that can provide a template for the design of future randomized trials evaluating therapies directed against genetically validated targets.
Topics: Humans; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Quality Improvement; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Research Design
PubMed: 33431510
DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a040980 -
Asian Nursing Research Dec 2019Scoping reviews are a useful approach to synthesizing research evidence although the objectives and methods are different to that of systematic reviews, yet some... (Review)
Review
Scoping reviews are a useful approach to synthesizing research evidence although the objectives and methods are different to that of systematic reviews, yet some confusion persists around how to plan and prepare so that a completed scoping review complies with best practice in methods and meets international standards for reporting criteria. This paper describes how to use available guidance to ensure a scoping review project meets global standards, has transparency of methods and promotes readability though the use of innovative approaches to data analysis and presentation. We address some of the common issues such as which projects are more suited to systematic reviews, how to avoid an inadequate search and/or poorly reported search strategy, poorly described methods and lack of transparency, and the issue of how to plan and present results that are clear, visually compelling and accessible to readers. Effective pre-planning, adhering to protocol and detailed consideration of how the results data will be communicated to the readership are critical. The aim of this article is to provide clarity about what is meant by conceptual clarity and how pre-planning enables review authors to produce scoping reviews which are of high quality, reliability and readily publishable.
Topics: Evidence-Based Practice; Humans; Patient Selection; Publishing; Research Design; Review Literature as Topic
PubMed: 31756513
DOI: 10.1016/j.anr.2019.11.002 -
Internal and Emergency Medicine Feb 2017Network meta-analysis is a technique for comparing multiple treatments simultaneously in a single analysis by combining direct and indirect evidence within a network of...
Network meta-analysis is a technique for comparing multiple treatments simultaneously in a single analysis by combining direct and indirect evidence within a network of randomized controlled trials. Network meta-analysis may assist assessing the comparative effectiveness of different treatments regularly used in clinical practice and, therefore, has become attractive among clinicians. However, if proper caution is not taken in conducting and interpreting network meta-analysis, inferences might be biased. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the process of network meta-analysis with the aid of a working example on first-line medical treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma. We discuss the key assumption of network meta-analysis, as well as the unique considerations for developing appropriate research questions, conducting the literature search, abstracting data, performing qualitative and quantitative synthesis, presenting results, drawing conclusions, and reporting the findings in a network meta-analysis.
Topics: Humans; Models, Statistical; Network Meta-Analysis; Research; Research Design; Review Literature as Topic
PubMed: 27913917
DOI: 10.1007/s11739-016-1583-7 -
Medical Care Jan 2022Pilot studies test the feasibility of methods and procedures to be used in larger-scale studies. Although numerous articles describe guidelines for the conduct of pilot...
BACKGROUND
Pilot studies test the feasibility of methods and procedures to be used in larger-scale studies. Although numerous articles describe guidelines for the conduct of pilot studies, few have included specific feasibility indicators or strategies for evaluating multiple aspects of feasibility. In addition, using pilot studies to estimate effect sizes to plan sample sizes for subsequent randomized controlled trials has been challenged; however, there has been little consensus on alternative strategies.
METHODS
In Section 1, specific indicators (recruitment, retention, intervention fidelity, acceptability, adherence, and engagement) are presented for feasibility assessment of data collection methods and intervention implementation. Section 1 also highlights the importance of examining feasibility when adapting an intervention tested in mainstream populations to a new more diverse group. In Section 2, statistical and design issues are presented, including sample sizes for pilot studies, estimates of minimally important differences, design effects, confidence intervals (CI) and nonparametric statistics. An in-depth treatment of the limits of effect size estimation as well as process variables is presented. Tables showing CI around parameters are provided. With small samples, effect size, completion and adherence rate estimates will have large CI.
CONCLUSION
This commentary offers examples of indicators for evaluating feasibility, and of the limits of effect size estimation in pilot studies. As demonstrated, most pilot studies should not be used to estimate effect sizes, provide power calculations for statistical tests or perform exploratory analyses of efficacy. It is hoped that these guidelines will be useful to those planning pilot/feasibility studies before a larger-scale study.
Topics: Feasibility Studies; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Pilot Projects; Research Design
PubMed: 34812790
DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001664 -
BMC Biology Mar 2020Research synthesis is the process of bringing together findings and attributes from different publications, for example, to give a more complete description of phenomena...
Research synthesis is the process of bringing together findings and attributes from different publications, for example, to give a more complete description of phenomena than is usually possible in a single work. We bring the Research Synthesis Series to BMC Biology to promote meta-analyses, other research syntheses including meta-research studies, and research synthesis methodologies in biology, facilitating their dissemination to broader communities.
Topics: Biology; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Research Design
PubMed: 32131827
DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-0755-0 -
Evidence-based Nursing Apr 2015
Topics: Humans; Qualitative Research; Reproducibility of Results; Research Design
PubMed: 25653237
DOI: 10.1136/eb-2015-102054 -
Journal of Vascular Surgery Aug 2020
Topics: Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; Humans; Patient Selection; Research Design
PubMed: 32711903
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2020.01.036 -
PLoS Genetics Jul 2020
Topics: Humans; Research Design; Science
PubMed: 32667915
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008950