COVID-19: como informações baseadas em evidências auxiliaram um hospital terciário durante o primeiro ano pandêmico / COVID-19: how evidence-based information supported a tertiary hospital during the first pandemic year

Introdução: Durante a pandemia de COVID-19, a necessidade por uma informação confiável, rápida e precisa desafiou os profissionais de saúde de todo o mundo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar e comparar as solicitações dos profissionais da saúde realizadas a um Centro de Informação Sobre Medicamentos (CIM) em um ano pré-pandêmico e durante o primeiro ano pandêmico. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo e retrospectivo, que analisou as perguntas realizadas ao CIM do Instituto Central do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (ICHCFMUSP) quanto ao seu assunto, classificação ATC dos medicamentos envolvidos e profissionais solicitantes. Resultados: Os resultados demonstram que, de maneira geral, durante o primeiro ano pandêmico houve um aumento de 454 perguntas (66,13%; p < 0,01). As dúvidas se referiam principalmente a questões de administração, estabilidade/compatibilidade e padronização do medicamento na instituição, sendo o farmacêutico o profissional que realizou maior número de questionamentos. Ao seccionar as perguntas, verificou-se que a maioria das informações solicitadas se referiram a agentes infecciosos, agentes que atuam no sangue/órgãos hematopoiéticos e sistema nervoso. Conclusão: Considerando o cenário pandêmico, com sobrecarga dos serviços de saúde, contratação em massa de novos profissionais e pouca disponibilidade de informações com embasamento científico, as evidências fornecidas pelo CIM, aliadas ao entendimento do quadro clínico de cada paciente, com certeza auxiliaram em um melhor desfecho clínico, bem como foram essenciais no uso racional de medicamentos no combate a pandemia de COVID-19.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic the need for reliable, fast and accurate information challenged healthcare professionals around the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the requests made by health professionals to a Drug Information Center (DIC) in a pre-pandemic year and during the first year of the pandemic. Methods: This is a quantitative and retrospective study that analyzed the solicitations made to the DIC of the Instituto Central do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (ICHCFMUSP) regarding its subject, ATC classification of drugs involved and requesting professionals. Results: The results show that, in general, during the first pandemic year there was an increase of 454 questions (66.13%; p < 0.01). The questions referred mainly to issues of administration, stability/compatibility and standardization of the medicines in the institution, being the pharmacist the professional who asked the most number of questions. When sectioning the questions, it was found that most of the information requested referred to infectious agents, agents that act on the blood/hematopoietic organs and the nervous system. Conclusion: Considering the pandemic scenario, with an overload of health services, large number of hires of new professionals and lack of availability of scientifically based information, the evidence provided by the DIC, combined with the understanding of clinical condition of each patient, certainly helped in a better outcome for each patient, as well as being essential in the rational use of medicines in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Fuld Institute for EBP Community Core: Supporting the Patient Perspective in EBP for Optimal Health and Wellness.

Health information and communication fall within patient preferences in evidence-based practice. Now more than ever, patients and families in the community have free access to "evidence" and healthcare information on the internet. However, is that information trustworthy, and how can we encourage people to use evidence to promote their optimal health and wellness? The recent rise of global spread of mis- and disinformation through social media outlets has affected public health. There is growing recognition that social media platforms provide magnified podiums leading to unfortunate outcomes. While much work has been done during the COVID-19 pandemic to address health misinformation, there is still much more work to do. We must respond to the widespread misinformation as a collective healthcare community to prevent poor healthcare decisions. Urging the public to be alert to information spread, assess the quality of health information (and whether it is evidence-based), and use shared decision-making tools is a path we can travel together.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for Liver Cirrhosis 2020.

The first edition of the clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis was published in 2010, and the second edition was published in 2015 by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (JSGE). The revised third edition was recently published in 2020. This version has become a joint guideline by the JSGE and the Japan Society of Hepatology (JSH). In addition to the clinical questions (CQs), background questions (BQs) are new items for basic clinical knowledge, and future research questions (FRQs) are newly added clinically important items. Concerning the clinical treatment of liver cirrhosis, new findings have been reported over the past 5 years since the second edition. In this revision, we decided to match the international standards as much as possible by referring to the latest international guidelines. Newly developed agents for various complications have also made great progress. In comparison with the latest global guidelines, such as the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), we are introducing data based on the evidence for clinical practice in Japan. The flowchart for nutrition therapy was reviewed to be useful for daily medical care by referring to overseas guidelines. We also explain several clinically important items that have recently received focus and were not mentioned in the last editions. This digest version describes the issues related to the management of liver cirrhosis and several complications in clinical practice. The content begins with a diagnostic algorithm, the revised flowchart for nutritional therapy, and refracted ascites, which are of great importance to patients with cirrhosis. In addition to the updated antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and C liver cirrhosis, the latest treatments for non-viral cirrhosis, such as alcoholic steatohepatitis/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH/NASH) and autoimmune-related cirrhosis, are also described. It also covers the latest evidence regarding the diagnosis and treatment of liver cirrhosis complications, namely gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, hepatorenal syndrome and acute kidney injury, hepatic encephalopathy, portal thrombus, sarcopenia, muscle cramp, thrombocytopenia, pruritus, hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and vitamin D deficiency, including BQ, CQ and FRQ. Finally, this guideline covers prognosis prediction and liver transplantation, especially focusing on several new findings since the last version. Since this revision is a joint guideline by both societies, the same content is published simultaneously in the official English journal of JSGE and JSH.

Master student's application of evidence-based knowledge and skills in Swedish healthcare practice.

AIM: To investigate the application of evidence-based knowledge and skills in everyday healthcare practice among healthcare personnel attending a course in evidence-based practice (EBP) at the master's level. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, an evaluation of the use of instrumental, conceptual and persuasive research was performed among students attending a master's course in EBP at Lund University. Seven questions from the validated questionnaire in the Longitudinal Analysis of Nursing Education project were used. The questionnaire was distributed among 21 students at the first lecture in the course (the group before the course). Students who had participated in the course 1 (n = 15) and 2 (n = 13) years earlier received the questionnaire by ordinary mail (the group after the course). RESULTS: The current study revealed that the majority of the students used research in their daily healthcare practice. However, the extent and type of use varied. There were differences in research use between the 'before' and 'after' groups. More specifically, the students in the group responding after the course were significantly more prone to use research in practice than the students responding before the course (P = 0.01 and 0.04). CONCLUSION: An EBP course offered to master's degree students provides enhancement of evidence-based knowledge and skills, and stimulates research use in healthcare practice.

Question formulation skills training using a novel rubric with first-year medical students.

OBJECTIVE: The authors used an assessment rubric to measure medical students' improvement in question formulation skills following a brief evidence-based practice (EBP) training session conducted by a health sciences librarian. METHOD: In a quasi-experimental designed study, students were assessed using a rubric on their pre-instructional skills in formulating answerable EBP questions, based on a clinical scenario. Following their training, they were assessed using the same scenario and rubric. Student pre- and post-test scores were compared using a paired t-test. RESULTS: Students demonstrated statistically significant improvement in their question formulation skills on their post-instructional assessments. The average score for students on the pre-test was 45.5 (SD 11.1) and the average score on the post-test was 65.6 (SD 5.4) with an average increase of 20.1 points on the 70-point scale, p<0.001. CONCLUSION: The brief instructional session aided by the rubric improved students' performance in question formulation skills.

Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Education on Emergency Nurses' EBP Attitudes, Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, Skills, and Behavior: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Emergency care clinicians are expected to use the latest research evidence in practice. However, emergency nurses do not always consistently implement evidence-based practice (EBP). An educational intervention on EBP was implemented to promote emergency nurses' use of EBP, and the effectiveness of it was evaluated. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an EBP educational intervention on emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior. The study also examined learners' satisfaction with the EBP educational intervention. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with parallel groups with evaluations before the education, immediately after it, and 6 and 12 months after the education was conducted at four emergency departments in two university hospitals. The experimental group (N = 40) received EBP education while the control group (N = 40) completed self-directed EBP education. The primary outcomes were emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior, while the secondary outcome was satisfaction with the EBP education. RESULTS: Thirty-five participants of an experimental and 29 participants of a control group completed the study. There were no statistically significant (p < .05) improvements and differences between groups in EBP attitude, self-efficacy, or behavior immediately after the EBP education. At the 6-month measurement point, the experimental group showed significantly better EBP attitudes, behavior, knowledge, and self-efficacy than the control group. At the 12-month measurement point, the improvements began to decrease. The groups also differed significantly in terms of participant satisfaction with how the teacher encouraged learners to ask clinical questions. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The EBP educational intervention implemented in this study had a positive effect on emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior. The effects of the education appeared the best 6 months after the education. After this point, the results began to decrease and approached baseline levels. EBP educational interventions designed for emergency nurses should apply various teaching strategies to improve their EBP attitude, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, behavior, and satisfaction with the education.

Revisiting time to translation: implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in cancer control.

PURPOSE: Previous studies estimate translation of research evidence into practice takes 17 years. However, this estimate is not specific to cancer control evidence-based practices (EBPs), nor do these studies evaluate variation in the translational process. We examined the translational pathway of cancer control EBPs. METHODS: We selected five cancer control EBPs where data on uptake were readily available. Years from landmark publication to clinical guideline issuance to implementation, defined as 50% uptake, were measured. The translational pathway for each EBP was mapped and an average total time across EBPs was calculated. RESULTS: Five cancer control EBPs were included: mammography, clinicians' advice to quit smoking, colorectal cancer screening, HPV co-testing, and HPV vaccination. Time from publication to implementation ranged from 13 to 21 years, averaging 15 years. Time from publication to guideline issuance ranged from 3 to 17 years, and from guideline issuance to implementation, - 4 to 12 years. Clinician's advice to quit smoking, HPV co-testing, and HPV vaccination were most rapidly implemented; colorectal cancer screening and mammography were slowest to implement. CONCLUSION: The average time to implementation was 15 years for the five EBPs we evaluated, a marginal improvement from prior findings. Although newer EBPs such as HPV vaccination and HPV co-testing were faster to implement than other EBPs, continued efforts in implementation science to speed research to practice are needed.

Closing the gap: The effect of an evidence-based intervention in increasing COPD nurses' knowledge.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) is the leading cause of respiratory failure and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Nurses play a vital role in ensuring effective, safe, and person-centered care in COPD. AIM: To assess the effect of an evidence-based intervention in increasing the COPD knowledge in a sample of care nurses, staffing public primary, and secondary healthcare services infrastructures and hospitals. METHODS: An intervention that entailed a combination of an educational program and the use of an educational algorithm based on the Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of COPD was performed. RESULTS: At the baseline, the mean total percentage of correct answers was very low (52.74%) as opposed to the other time intervals in which there was a huge increase after the session that was maintained 3 and 6 months later. The highest effect in the total knowledge score was attributed to the educational session followed by the use of the educational algorithm. CONCLUSION: The effect of the intervention on the mean score of correct answers was very strong, which is confirmed by the consistency of the high performance of nurses after 3 and 6 months, respectively.

Evidence-based diagnostic algorithm for visceral leishmaniasis in Bangladesh.

Evidence-based diagnostic algorithm is highly recommended for the visceral leishmaniasis (VL). This cross-sectional study was performed in Bangladesh to evaluate VL diagnostic tools including serology, buffy coat smear microscopy for LD body and various DNA-based techniques using buffy coat in 100 confirmed VL cases and 100 controls. The performance of tools against spleen smear (gold standard) was evaluated using kappa coefficient. Diagnostic precision and other inherent indicators were considered for index scoring (IS) of performance of tools using factor analysis. A diagnostic algorithm was formulated based on the IS and availability of the tools at different health care facilities of Bangladesh. A high level of agreement (kappa ≥  0.80) was observed for all the diagnostic tools. The highest kappa coefficients were found for rK39 RDT and rK39 ELISA (0.95), followed by ssuRNA-PCR (0.94), Buffy coat smear (0.93), rK28 ELISA (0.92), rK28 RDT (0.89), LAMP (0.89), Mini-exon PCR (0.86), ITS1 (0.85), and ITS2 PCR (0.80). rK39 RDT was found to be the best diagnostic test (IS: 1.7) followed by rK28 RDT (IS: 1.5), buffy coat smear microscopy (IS: 0.5), rK39 & rK28 ELISA (IS: 0.3), ssuRNA-PCR (IS: -0.7) and LAMP, Mini-exon, ITS1, & ITS2 PCR (IS: -0.9). rK39 RDT has been proposed as the best option for primary health care facilities, while buffy coat smear microscopy was found to be a good adjunct for confirmation of serology-positive cases and proposed for secondary and tertiary facilities. ssuRNA-PCR or LAMP can be an alternate confirmation tool only applicable to the tertiary facilities.

Translating Evidence-Based Guidelines into Practice-Are We Getting It Right? A Multi-Centre Prospective International Audit of Nutrition Care in Patients with Foregut Tumors (INFORM).

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in patients with foregut tumors comprising head and neck (HNC) and esophageal (EC) cancers, negatively impacting outcomes. International evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) for nutrition care exist; however, translation of research evidence into practice commonly presents considerable challenges and consequently lags. This study aimed to describe and evaluate current international nutrition care practices compared with the best-available evidence for patients with foregut tumors who are at high risk of malnutrition. A multi-centre prospective cohort study enrolled 170 patients commencing treatment of curative intent for HNC (n = 119) or EC (n = 51) in 11 cancer care settings in North America, Europe and Australia between 2016 and 2018. Adherence criteria were derived from relevant EBG recommendations with pooled results for participating centres reported according to the Nutrition Care Model at either system or patient levels. Adherence to EBG recommendations was: good (≥80%) for performing baseline nutrition screening and assessment, perioperative nutrition assessment and nutrition prescription for energy and protein targets; moderate (≥60 to 80%) for utilizing validated screening and assessment tools and pre-radiotherapy dietitian consultation; and poor (60%) for initiating post-operative nutrition support within 24 h and also dietetic consultation weekly during radiotherapy and fortnightly for 6 weeks post-radiotherapy. In conclusion, gaps in evidence-based cancer nutrition care remain; however, this may be improved by filling known evidence gaps through high-quality research with a concurrent evolution of EBGs to also encompass practical implementation guidance. These should aim to support multidisciplinary cancer clinicians to close evidence-practice gaps throughout the patient care trajectory with clearly defined roles and responsibilities that also address patient-reported concerns.

Real-world evidence enhances decision making.

DISCLOSURES: No funding supported the writing of this commentary. The author has nothing to disclose.

Changes in practitioners' attitudes, perceived training needs and self-efficacy over the implementation process of an evidence-based parenting program.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based family support programs such as the Triple P - Positive Parenting Program have the potential to enhance the well-being of children and families. However, they cannot achieve their expected outcomes if insufficient attention is paid to the implementation process. It has been demonstrated that practitioners' attitudes towards evidence-based programs (EBPs), perceived training needs and self-efficacy for working with parents influence implementation outcomes (e.g., program acceptability, adoption, adherence and sustainability). At the same time, the experience of being involved in the implementation process of an EBP could enhance practitioners' perceptions of the initiative. This study aimed to assess changes in practitioner's attitudes, perceived training needs and self-efficacy over a two-year EBP implementation process, in interaction with their appraisal of their organization's capacity to implement the EPB. METHODS: In the province of Quebec, Canada, Triple P was implemented and evaluated in two communities. Ninety-nine practitioners from various organizations completed questionnaires shortly before their training in Triple P and two years later. RESULTS: Findings show that practitioners who displayed more initial skepticism regarding their organization's capacity to implement the program reported greater improvements in attitudes over time, while practitioners who showed more optimism at baseline reported a greater decrease in their perceived training needs. Practitioners' self-efficacy increased moderately regardless of perceived organizational capacity. CONCLUSIONS: These results are encouraging given that more positive perceptions of EBPs could foster the systematic use of these programs in communities, for the potential benefit of a greater number of families.

Evidence-Based Practice Competence in Nursing Students Preparing to Transition to Practice.

BACKGROUND: Opportunities to embed and evaluate evidence-based practice (EBP) competency in the clinical setting across nursing curricula are not well described in the literature. AIMS: This research aims to describe how clinical learning environments influence senior nursing students' integration of EBP competencies in their practice and perceptions of EBP competence development in a traditional baccalaureate nursing program. METHODS: A sequential, mixed-methods design was used with senior students upon completion of their last two clinical experiences in the nursing program. Students completed the EBP Work Environment Scale (Pryse, McDaniel, & Schafer, 2014) and semi-structured interviews. FINDINGS: Students appraised EBP Work Environments positively during preceptor-led experiences as opposed to instructor-led, group clinical experiences. Students described the evolution of emerging EBP competence throughout their nursing education and emphasized the importance of coursework in intentionally developing EBP competence. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Assessment of clinical experiences and models that contribute to EBP competence is needed. Participants in this study emphasized the importance of coursework that builds on EBP competencies, and the tremendous value of nurse preceptors that encouraged growth in their ability to engage with EBP in clinical practice.

Registered Nurses' Evidence-Based Practice Revisited: A Longitudinal Study in Mid-Career.

BACKGROUND: To improve patient outcomes and patient safety and to reduce costs in health care, the implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial. AIMS: To examine the use of the EBP process in Swedish health care. Specifically, to examine whether professional career development (years of experience, years in current position, specialist education, care setting) is associated with RNs' practice of EBP activities and changes in the extent of practicing the EBP process between early and mid-career. METHODS: In this observational longitudinal study, the extent of EBP activities was investigated in three national cohorts of 2,474 RNs. Nurses rated their own EBP levels 11-15 and three years after graduation. Six items measured the respondents' extent of practicing the EBP process. Comparisons of EBP levels between subgroups were tested using unpaired t-tests or one-way ANOVAs. RESULTS: On average, RNs used the EBP process occasionally every half year. RNs with specialist education reported a higher extent of EBP activities as did RNs who worked in outpatient and home care settings. There was a significant increase in the extent of EBP activities 11 to 13 years after graduation compared to three years after graduation. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The findings raise some central questions for practice: How well equipped are RNs to practice the EBP process? What is needed to facilitate EBP in clinical settings? Building on the findings of this study, managers in clinical practice need to develop supportive organizational structures that facilitate EBP. This study suggests that mid-career RNs increased the extent of practicing the EBP process over time compared to previous reported practice in their first years as RNs. However, the level of EBP activities was low to moderate, and this modest increase took 11 to 13 years to achieve. To enhance the practice of EBP in nursing care, educational and organizational factors need to be considered.

Implementing a Pressure Injury Prevention Bundle to Decrease Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries in an Adult Critical Care Unit: An Evidence-Based, Pilot Initiative.

Patients in critical care units (CCUs) are at risk of the development of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). Research supports the use of a pressure injury prevention (PIP) bundle to standardize PIP strategies and reduce the incidence of HAPIs. PURPOSE: This evidence-based practice initiative was undertaken to implement a PIP bundle to decrease HAPIs in an adult patient CCU. METHODS: A literature review was conducted during the first month of the implementation of the initiative to identify best PIP and bundle implementation practices. Wound, ostomy, and continence nurses conducted educational sessions and mentored registered nurses who became PIP bundle resource nurses. Adoption of the bundle was validated using an audit tool and PIP rounds. The pre- and post-implementation HAPI indices, pressure injuries / patient care days × 1000, were compared. RESULTS: Implementation of the PIP bundle resulted in a notable decrease in HAPIs on the unit. During the pre-intervention period, January 2017 to January 2018, there were 9 HAPIs (HAPI index 3.4). During the 10-month post-intervention period, 1 HAPI developed (HAPI index 0.48). CONCLUSION: An evidence-based PIP bundle initiative was implemented in an adult patient CCU to standardize the process for HAPI prevention and reduce the number of HAPIs. Staff involvement and leadership support were vital to the success of the initiative. Integration of the bundle into practice resulted in a notable decrease in HAPIs.

The Benefits and Challenges of Point-of-Care Testing in Rural and Remote Primary Care Settings in Australia.

CONTEXT.­: Point-of-care (POC) testing has significant potential application in rural and remote Australian communities where access to laboratory-based pathology testing is often poor and the burden of chronic, acute, and infectious disease is high. OBJECTIVE.­: To explore the clinical, operational, cultural, and cost benefits of POC testing in the Australian rural and remote health sector and describe some of the current challenges and limitations of this technology. DATA SOURCES.­: Evidence-based research from established POC testing networks for chronic, acute, and infectious disease currently managed by the International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing at Flinders University are used to highlight the experience gained and the lessons learned from these networks and, where possible, describe innovative solutions to address the current barriers to the uptake of POC testing, which include governance, staff turnover, maintaining training and competency, connectivity, quality testing, sustainable funding mechanisms, and accreditation. CONCLUSIONS.­: Point-of-care testing can provide practical and inventive opportunities to revolutionize the delivery of pathology services in rural and remote sectors where clinical need for this technology is greatest. However, many barriers to POC testing still exist in these settings, and the full potential of POC testing cannot be realized until these limitations are addressed and resolved.

Differences Between Magnet and Non-Magnet-Designated Hospitals in Nurses' Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge, Competencies, Mentoring, and Culture.

BACKGROUND: Obtaining Magnet recognition is important to hospitals as it has been linked to positive nursing and patient outcomes. Evidence-based practice (EBP) also has been shown to positively impact these same outcomes. However, the effect that Magnet designation has on different facets of EBP when compared to non-designated institutions is less understood. AIMS: To determine the differences between Magnet-designated versus non-Magnet-designated hospitals on nurses' EBP knowledge, competency, mentoring, and culture. METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed on data obtained from the Melnyk et al. (2018) national study of U.S. nurses' EBP competencies. RESULTS: 2,344 nurses completed the survey (n = 1,622 Magnet and n = 638 non-Magnet). Magnet-designated hospital nurses had higher scores in EBP knowledge (mean ± SD: 19.9 ± 6.8 vs. 19.1 ± 7.0, Cohen's d = 0.12), mentoring (22.6 ± 11.1 vs. 18.6 ± 10.1, d = 0.38), and culture (82.9 ± 21.8 vs. 74.1 ± 21.3, d = 0.41). There was no difference between the two groups in EBP competency scores (53.8 ± 16.2 vs. 53.0 ± 15.9, d = 0.05), and average scores for the 24 EBP competency items were less than competent in both groups. LINKING EVIDENCE TO PRACTICE: Despite having higher knowledge, stronger perceived EBP cultures, and greater EBP mentoring than non-Magnet-designated nurses, Magnet nurses did not meet the EBP competencies. A tremendous need exists to provide nurses with the knowledge and skills to achieve the EBP competencies in both Magnet and non-Magnet-designated hospitals. A critical mass of EBP mentors who also meet the EBP competencies is needed to work with point-of-care nurses to ensure that EBP competency is achieved in order to ultimately ensure healthcare quality and safety. Rigorous studies are needed to determine which interventions at the academic and clinical education level result in improved EBP competency.

Development of an Innovative Tool to Appraise Big Data for Best Evidence.

BACKGROUND: Datum from electronic sources has accumulated and resulted in the establishment of big data and data science. Big data consists of data sets that are larger than traditional data processing applications can manage. Data science is the research method used to analyze big data. Researchers are applying research methods to harness large and complex data sets to increase our understanding of population health by creating predictive models of patients using a variety of key variables or characteristics. Evidence-based practice relies on the appraisal of research to ensure rigor prior to implementation in clinical settings. Consistent with other research methods, papers based on data science should be subject to appraisal for determination of best evidence. The purpose of this paper is to present a tool that can be used to appraise research papers based on large data sets and data science research methods. METHODS: The following approach was used to develop the Data Science Appraisal Tool (DSAT). Despite an exhaustive search, we were unable to locate an appraisal tool for papers based on data science research methods. We then synthesized the extant literature to form the tool. The tool is based on the common characteristics of big data: (a) verification that the data set is representative of big data; (b) preparation of the data for analysis; (c) methodology used for data analysis; (d) results; and (e) theoretically based. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Appraisal tools currently exist for traditional and well-known research methods. The DSAT provides a method to appraise papers based in data science for best evidence.

General practitioners' perceptions of their practice of evidence-based chronic disease prevention interventions: a quantitative study in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: Epidemic chronic diseases pose significant challenges to the improvement of healthcare in China and worldwide. Despite increasing international calls for the inclusion of evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) processes in chronic disease prevention and control programming as well as policymaking, there is relatively little research that assesses the current capacity of physicians and the factors that influence that capacity in China. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted in community health centres (CHCs) in Shanghai, China, using multistage cluster sampling. An evidence-based chronic disease prevention (EBCDP) evaluation tool was employed to assess physician EBCDP awareness, adoption, implementation and maintenance based on the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework and using a 7-point Likert scale. Linear regression analysis was used to assess associations between each EBCDP aspect and overall EBCDP status with participant characteristics or organizational factors. RESULT: A total of 892 physicians from CHCs in Shanghai, China, were assessed. The physicians perceived their awareness (mean = 4.90, SD = 1.02) and maintenance (mean = 4.71, SD = 1.07) of EBCDP to be relatively low. Physicians with relatively lower job titles and monthly incomes (> 9000 RMB) tended to have relatively higher scores for the awareness, adoption, and implementation of EBCDP (P < 0.05). Those who had participated in one program for chronic disease prevention and control were less likely to adopt (b = - 0.284, P = 0.007), implement (b = - 0.292, P = 0.004), and maintain (b = - 0.225, P = 0.025) EBCDP than those who had participated in more programs. Physicians in general practice (Western medicine) had a lower level of awareness of EBCDP than those in other departments (P < 0.0001). Physician from CHCs located in suburban areas had lower scores for awareness (b = - 0.150, P = 0.047), implementation (b = - 0.171, P = 0.029), and maintenance (b = - 0.237, P = 0.002) that those from urban CHCs. Physicians in CHCs affiliated with universities had higher scores on all four EBCDP aspects that those in CHCs not affiliated with a university. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides quantitative evidence illustrating EBCDP practices among physicians in CHCs with various personal and organizational characteristics, respectively. More methods should be provided to increase the awareness of such physicians regarding EBCDP to stimulate the use of EBCDP for their patients and in connection with other public health priorities.

Evaluation of an Adapted Collaborative Care Model for Older Adult Depression Severity Reduction and Quality of Life Improvement.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy of a collaborative care model in the reduction of depression severity and the improvement of quality of life (QOL) of older adults. METHODS: Individual participant encounters were conducted approximately every 2 weeks over 4 months with nineteen participants. Average participant age was 73 years. A pre-experimental single pretest-posttest group was conducted in which the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and Quality of Life Assessment (QOLA) scores respectively measured depression severity and QOL of participants. RESULTS: The average PHQ-9 score (0-27; higher indicates worse depression) decreased from 14 pre-intervention to 8.3 post-intervention (p < .001), while the average QOLA score (0-10; higher indicates better QOL) increased from 5.7 pre-intervention to 6.5 post-intervention (p = .342). CONCLUSION: The adapted collaborative care model provided an affordable, effective method of older adult depression management within the contexts of this clinical study.