Abstracts

Working with Toronto neighbourhoods toward developing indicators of community capacity.

Often the goal of health and social development agencies is to assess communities and work with them to improve community capacity. Particularly for health promoters working in community settings and to ensure consistency in the definition of health promotion, the evaluation of health promotion programmes should be based on strengths and assets, yet existing information for planning and evaluation purposes usually focuses on problems and deficits.

Title of abstract:
Working with Toronto neighbourhoods toward developing indicators of community capacity.
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Abstracts

The quality of randomized trial reporting in leading medical journals since the revised CONSORT statement.

If randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are to fulfill their potential to allow health care providers to make informed inferences about the validity of the trials upon which they base their clinical practice, then the reporting of key methodological factors must improve. The revised Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) were developed to improve the suboptimal reporting of RCTs. We aimed to determine the extent to which RCTs report key methodological factors included in the revised CONSORT recommendations following publication of these recommendations.

Title of abstract:
The quality of randomized trial reporting in leading medical journals since the revised CONSORT statement.
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Abstracts

Systematically reviewing qualitative studies complements survey design: exploratory study of barriers to paediatric immunization

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Designing survey questions requires content expertise, awareness of previous qualitative literature, and piloting. We examined surveys addressing parental barriers to vaccinating children to determine if they comprehensively included themes identified in published qualitative studies. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search of 12 electronic databases and compared questions asked in eligible surveys identified to issues raised in qualitative studies.

Title of abstract:
Systematically reviewing qualitative studies complements survey design: exploratory study of barriers to paediatric immunization
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Abstracts

Problems with use of composite end points in cardiovascular trials: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the extent to which components of composite end points in randomized controlled trials vary in importance to patients, the frequency of events in the more and less important components, and the extent of variability in the relative risk reductions across components.DESIGN: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: Cardiovascular randomized controlled trials published in the Lancet, Annals of Internal Medicine, Circulation, European Heart Journal, JAMA, and New England Journal of Medicine, from 1 January 2002 to 30 June 2003.

Title of abstract:
Problems with use of composite end points in cardiovascular trials: a systematic review.
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Abstracts

Epidemiology and reporting of randomized trials employing re-randomization of patient groups

Trials employing re-randomization of some or all participants provide opportunities for determining optimal dosing and dosing schedules, potential disease modifying effects, direct comparisons between drugs, and salvage therapy for patients failing their assigned treatments. To date, no data exists about their prevalence, epidemiology, or quality. We undertook a systematic review of all trials re-randomizing patients. Using explicit search criteria, we searched 11 electronic databases independently, in duplicate.

Title of abstract:
Epidemiology and reporting of randomized trials employing re-randomization of patient groups
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Abstracts

Guidelines to case report writing for naturopathic doctors

Case reports play an important role in disseminating information to the medical community. Given the wide variety of naturopathic clinical practice, case reports offer an excellent opportunity to share clinical insights from naturopathic doctors. Typically, unique and rare events or patterns are depicted regarding different aspects of a case, including: symptomatology, pathophysiology, treatment(s), and outcome, including adverse effects. In this paper we elaborate on what a case report is, why one is conducted, and provide a brief set of guidelines on how one is written.

Title of abstract:
Guidelines to case report writing for naturopathic doctors
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Abstracts

Describing reporting guidelines for health research: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process of development, content, and methods of implementation of reporting guidelines for health research. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A systematic review of publications describing health research reporting guidelines developed using consensus. RESULTS: Eighty-one reporting guidelines for health research were included in the review. The largest number of guidelines do not focus on a specific study type (n=35; 43%), whereas those that do primarily refer to reporting of randomized controlled trials (n=16; 35%).

Title of abstract:
Describing reporting guidelines for health research: a systematic review.
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Abstracts

Assessing the utility of an electronic research database to capture whole systems practice at two naturopathic outpatient teaching clinics

This observation study assessed the utility of an electronic Naturopathic Patient Database at 2 naturopathic teaching clinics as a research and educational tool. Focusing on the whole systems practice of naturopathic medicine using individualized treatment protocols, patients from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine outpatient teaching clinic and the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine outpatient teaching clinic were assessed. Data were collected on patient demographics, laboratory values, physical measures, treatment protocols, and validated questionnaires.

Title of abstract:
Assessing the utility of an electronic research database to capture whole systems practice at two naturopathic outpatient teaching clinics
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Abstracts

Evaluation of the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized trials: focus groups, online survey, proposed recommendations and their implementation

BACKGROUND: In 2008, the Cochrane Collaboration introduced a tool for assessing the risk of bias in clinical trials included in Cochrane reviews. The risk of bias (RoB) tool is based on narrative descriptions of evidence-based methodological features known to increase the risk of bias in trials. METHODS: To assess the usability of this tool, we conducted an evaluation by means of focus groups, online surveys and a face-to-face meeting.

Title of abstract:
Evaluation of the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized trials: focus groups, online survey, proposed recommendations and their implementation
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Abstracts

Establishing an international research collaborative for naturopathy: The International Research Consortium of Naturopathic Academic Clinics (IRCNAC)

Naturopathy is a system of health-care through which practitioners apply core philosophies, theories and principles to integrate medical knowledge with natural treatment options. In recent years the naturopathic community has developed a stronger international coherence.

Title of abstract:
Establishing an international research collaborative for naturopathy: The International Research Consortium of Naturopathic Academic Clinics (IRCNAC)
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