Practice Based Evidence

Considered a global health crisis by the World Health Organization, hypertension (HTN) is the leading risk factor for death and disability. The majority of treated patients do not attain evidence-based clinical targets, which increases the risk of potentially fatal complications. HTN is the most common chronic condition seen in primary care; thus, implementing therapies that lower and maintain BP to within-target ranges is of tremendous public health importance. Isometric handgrip (IHG) training is a simple intervention endorsed by the American Heart Association as a potential adjuvant BP-lowering treatment...

Schools with wellness teams are more likely to implement federally mandated Local Wellness Policies (LWPs, Local Education Agency-level policies for healthy eating/physical activity). Best practices have been developed for wellness teams based on minimal empirical evidence. The purpose of this study is to determine, among schools with wellness teams, associations between LWP implementation and six wellness team best practices (individually and as a sum score). An online survey targeting Maryland school wellness leaders/administrators (52...

BACKGROUND: This paper addresses the need for a paradigm shift from post-diagnosis tertiary care towards maintenance and promotion of health across the lifespan, for healthcare in general and in occupational healthcare specifically. It is based on the assumption that the realization of this paradigm shift may be facilitated by teaching (future) occupational health professionals to use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). OBJECTIVE: Describing the development of a an ICF based occupational health curriculum...

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the effectiveness of serious games (SGs) and their various features is inconsistent in the motor rehabilitation field, which makes evidence based development of SGs a rare practice. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of SGs in motor rehabilitation for upper limb and movement/balance and to test the potential moderating role of SGs features like feedback, activities, characters and background. METHODS: We ran a meta-analysis including 61 studies reporting randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled trials (CTs) or case series designs in which at least one intervention for motor rehabilitation included the use of SGs as standalone or in combination...

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. It has recently been appreciated that human papillomavirus (HPV) status (or p16 status, which is a frequently used surrogate for HPV status) is prognostic for oropharyngeal SCCHN. Here, we review and contextualize existing p16 and HPV data, focusing on the cetuximab registration trials in previously untreated, locoregionally advanced, nonmetastatic SCCHN (LA SCCHN) and in recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN (R/M SCCHN): the IMCL-9815 and EXTREME clinical trials, respectively...

BACKGROUND: Low adherence to dietary guidelines and a concurrent rise of obesity-related chronic diseases emphasize the need for effective interventions to promote healthy eating. There is growing recognition that behavior change interventions should draw on theories of behavior change. Online interventions grounded in theory lead to increased effectiveness for health behavior change; however, few theory-driven social media-based health promotion interventions have been described in the literature...

BACKGROUND: The Canadian Computed Tomography (CT) Head Rule, a clinical decision rule designed to safely reduce imaging in minor head injury, has been rigorously validated and implemented, and yet expected decreases in CT were unsuccessful. Recent work has identified empathic care as a key component in decreasing CT overuse. Health information technology can hinder the clinician-patient relationship. Patient-centered decision tools to support the clinician-patient relationship are needed to promote evidence-based decisions...

The paper aims to introduce the current status of shared decision making (SDM) in Taiwan under its mixed health care system and single-payer health insurance system. With experiences in promoting both evidence based medicine and patient safety, the Joint Commission of Taiwan has implemented a nationwide SDM program under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Welfare since 2016, incorporating multiple approaches such as developing patient decision aids (PDAs), executing the Medical Decision Aids Campaign, establishing a SDM platform, and integrating SDM in clinical practice...

BACKGROUND: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs have been shown to have a positive impact on outcome. The ERAS care system includes an evidence-based guideline, an implementation program, and an interactive audit system to support practice change. The purpose of this study is to describe the use of the Theoretic Domains Framework (TDF) in changing surgical care and application of the Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) model to analyze end-to-end implementation of ERAS in colorectal surgery across multiple sites within a single health system...

BACKGROUND: The majority of rare diseases are complex diseases caused by a combination of multiple morbigenous factors. However, uncovering the complex etiology and pathogenesis of rare diseases is difficult due to limited clinical resources and conventional statistical methods. This study aims to investigate the interrelationship and the effectiveness of potential factors of pediatric cataract, for the exploration of data mining strategy in the scenarios of rare diseases. METHODS: We established a pilot rare disease specialized care center to systematically record all information and the entire treatment process of pediatric cataract patients...

Purpose: This research investigated a first step in implementing the dynamic assessment (DA) component of Triadic Gaze Intervention (Olswang, Feuerstein, Pinder, & Dowden, 2013; Olswang et al., 2014), an evidence-based protocol for teaching early signals of communication to young children with physical disabilities. Clinician attitudes about adopting external evidence into practice and implementation fidelity in DA protocol delivery were examined following training. Method: Seven early intervention clinicians from multiple disciplines were trained to deliver the four essential elements of the DA protocol: (a) provide communication opportunity, (b) recognize child's potentially communicative signal, (c) shape child's signal toward triadic gaze, and (d) reinforce with play...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The Pediatric Endocrine Society recently published new guidelines for the use of human growth hormone (hGH) and human insulin-like growth factor-I (hIGF-I) treatment for growth hormone deficiency, idiopathic short stature, and primary IGF-I deficiency in children and adolescents. This review places the new guidelines in historical contexts of the life cycle of hGH and the evolution of US health care, and highlights their future implications. RECENT FINDINGS: The new hGH guidelines, the first to be created by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach, are more conservative than their predecessors...

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of disease-related malnutrition in Western European hospitals is estimated to be about 30%. There is no consensus whether poor nutritional status causes poorer clinical outcome or if it is merely associated with it. The intention with all forms of nutrition support is to increase uptake of essential nutrients and improve clinical outcome. Previous reviews have shown conflicting results with regard to the effects of nutrition support. OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefits and harms of nutrition support versus no intervention, treatment as usual, or placebo in hospitalised adults at nutritional risk...

BACKGROUND: Identifying and implementing evidence-based interventions for cancer-related acute pain can decrease adverse effects and improve quality of life. 
. OBJECTIVES: This article presents current evidence supporting interventions to reduce cancer-related acute pain. 
. METHODS: PubMed and CINAHL® databases were searched to identify studies addressing interventions to manage acute pain in patients with cancer. The interventions are categorized according to the Putting Evidence Into Practice classification schema...

BACKGROUND: Pain is a common issue for patients with cancer and can be challenging to manage effectively. Healthcare professionals need to be knowledgeable about evidence-based nonpharmacologic interventions.
. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review critically appraises the strength and quality of the empirical evidence for nonpharmacologic interventions in reducing chronic cancer pain.
. METHODS: Intervention studies were critically appraised and summarized by an Oncology Nursing Society Putting Evidence Into Practice team of RNs, advanced practice nurses, and nurse scientists...

Many evidence-based pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies exist to manage acute, chronic, refractory, and breakthrough cancer pain. This supplement includes an overview of cancer pain assessment, which is the foundation of pain management. Following the overview are four systematic reviews covering 462 studies on cancer pain management. The Oncology Nursing Society Putting Evidence Into Practice (PEP) expert panel summarized the evidence and provided recommendations for practice based on PEP guidelines...

BACKGROUND: Breakthrough cancer pain (BtCP), defined as a transient exacerbation of pain that occurs in conjunction with well-controlled background pain, is a common and burdensome problem in patients with cancer.
. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review is to identify evidence-based pharmacologic modalities for adequate management of BtCP. 
. METHODS: PubMed and CINAHL® databases were searched to identify literature regarding pharmacologic strategies for BtCP published from January 2006 to June 2016...

BACKGROUND: Chronic and refractory cancer pain are significant issues and can increase patient suffering and compromise quality of life. A variety of evidence-based pharmacologic strategies can be used routinely to control cancer pain. 
. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the pharmacologic evidence in the management of chronic and refractory cancer pain. 
. METHODS: The Oncology Nursing Society's Putting Evidence Into Practice pain team conducted a search of 184 systematic reviews, meta-analyses, research studies, and guidelines and classified the evidence into weight-of-evidence categories...

BACKGROUND: When a discrepancy exists between an individual's biologic sex and the deeply felt sense of being male or female, a transgender orientation may result. 
. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to summarize breast cancer risk assessment and screening recommendations for transgender individuals. 
. METHODS: A review of the literature was done to determine if evidence-based screening guidelines exist for transgender individuals and how they can be applied to clinical practice...

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Many individuals have significant symptoms related to this disease. Palliative radiation therapy (PRT) can relieve symptoms at the end of life for those with metastatic cancer. PRT is underused in treating patients with symptomatic cancer at the end of life, particularly in rural and remote settings, despite the evidence that supports it. The purpose of this evidence-based practice study is to (a) assess the knowledge of rural primary care providers about PRT, (b) disseminate evidence on the indications for PRT, and...