eEvidence: Information Seeking Support for Evidence-based Practice: An Implementation Case Study.

We propose to collect freely available articles from the web to build an evidence-based practice resource collection with up-to-date coverage, and then apply automated classification and key information extraction on the collected articles to provide means for sounder relevance judgments. We implement these features into a dual-interface system that allows users to choose between an active or passive information seeking process depending on the amount of time available.

Improving Search for Evidence-based Practice using Information Extraction.

The search for applicable and valid research evidence-based practice articles is not supported well in common EBP resources, as some crucial study data, such as patient details, study design and results, are not available or presented explicitly. We propose to extract these data from research articles using a two-step supervised soft classification method. Compared to manual annotation, our approach is less labor-intensive and more flexible, hence opening up the possibility of utilizing these data to facilitate the evidence selection process in information seeking support systems.

The effectiveness of sitz bath in managing adult patients with anorectal disorders: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Sitz bath is commonly prescribed for anorectal disorders in conjunction with dietary and pharmacological therapies. However, the effectiveness of sitz bath for anorectal disorders is not certain and there has been no previous examination of the evidence using a systematic approach. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to critically analyse and systematically review the evidence to determine the effectiveness of sitz bath in managing adult patients with anorectal disorders. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Types of participants The participants of interest included adults over 18 years of age with diagnosis of anorectal disorders with or without surgical interventions. The participants who underwent episiotomy were excluded from the review.Types of interventions Intervention of interest was sitz bath with or without the combination of pharmacological and dietary therapies.Types of outcome measures The outcomes of interest included overall intensity of pain; post-operative pain score; post-defecation pain score; acceleration of fissure/wound healing; patients' satisfaction level and presence of complications.Types of studies The review considered only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs. SEARCH STRATEGY: Initially, mesh terms from PubMed were established and were used to search in MEDLINE and CINAHL for analysis of the text words contained in the title and abstract, and the text terms used to describe the article. A second search using all the identified keywords and the search terms were utilised across all accessible and relevant databases from Year 1990 to November 2009 in English language only. Thirdly, the relevant lists of all identified articles were searched for additional studies. METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY: Selected articles were appraised by 2 reviewers independently for methodological validity using the standardised critical appraisal instruments from Joanna Briggs Institute Systems Meta Analysis of Statistical Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-MAStARI). DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION: Data were extracted from the articles included in the review using standardised data extraction tools from the JBI-MAStARI. DATA SYNTHESIS: The findings were presented in narrative form as statistical pooling was not possible due to clinical heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of 4 RCTs were included in the review. The use of sitz bath had no significant impact in reducing overall intensity of pain and post operative pain. Conflicting findings for post defecation pain were reported. It had no impact in accelerating fissure or wound healing. However, patients were satisfied using sitz bath and no severe complications were reported. CONCLUSION: There was no strong evidence to support the use of sitz bath for pain relief, and accelerate fissure or wound healing among adult patients with anorectal disorders, however no complications were reported. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The benefit of sitz bath is limited to the patients' satisfaction based on the current evidence. Use of water spray as alternative method to sitz bath could be considered for future research. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: More rigorous research methodology and standardisation tool for outcome measurement are needed for future investigations.

eEvidence: supplying evidence to the patient interaction.

Nursing demands that all care offered to patients is appropriately assessed, delivered and evaluated; the care offered must be up to date and supported by adequately researched published evidence. A basic logic suggests that information and communications technology can help the nurse in maintaining his/her care provision to the highest level through presenting relevant evidence. The nursing need for evidence to support the delivery of care is a global phenomenon. Within the project this is demonstrated by the fact that the project lead is resident in England and the project is being carried out in Singapore with the help of the National University Hospital, the Alice Lee Centre of Nursing Studies and the School of Computing at the National University of Singapore. The project commenced in January 2008, this paper will present the background thinking to the project design and will describe the outcomes which will provide nurses with individual supportive evidence for their practice gleaned from quality assured sources. The project will use information and communications technology to provide the evidence on an individual basis. The paper will outline the four key elements of the project, these being the development of user (professional) profiles; the design and development of an automatic crawler search engine to deliver quality assured evidence sources and software design; there will be some mention of hardware design and maintenance which is the fourth key element. Within the paper, consideration will be given to the added value of the project to the nurses, their patients/clients, the research agenda and the employing organisation: The drive for information is determined by the nurses in clinical and community practice. Evidence available immediately at the point of intervention with patient/client. No patient information stored within structure. All technology and almost all support software already available. Additional information can flow both ways for quality and activity audits. Identification of areas weak in evidence requiring supportive research will be driven by practice. Immediate dissemination of new generic practices and principles can be delivered to each nurse on syncopation, removing the requirements for paper updates etc. Process can be transferred across all healthcare clinical professions In conclusion, information will be given on progress to date in terms of technical applicability and user acceptance by the nursing staff. In addition, an insight will be given as to managing a multiprofessional, multi-organisational project from a distance.